View source for American McGee's Alice

{{Short description|2000 dark fantasy video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = American McGee's Alice
| image = American McGee Alice cover.png
| caption = North American cover art
| developer = [[Rogue Entertainment]]{{efn|Mac OS version developed by Westlake Interactive.<ref name=Mac>{{cite web |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/162084/alice.html |title=Aspyr ships American McGee's Alice for Mac | website=[[Macworld]] |date=July 12, 2001 |access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>}}
| publisher = [[Electronic Arts]]{{efn|Released under the [[EA Games]] banner. Mac OS version published by [[Aspyr Media]].<ref name=Mac/>}}
| director = [[American McGee]]
| producer = R. J. Berg
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|American McGee|Jim Molinets}}
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|Peter Mack|Darin McNeil|Joe Waters}}
| artist = 
| writer = 
| composer = [[Chris Vrenna]]
| series = 
| engine = [[id Tech 3]]
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[Windows]]|[[Mac OS]]}}
| released = '''Windows'''{{Video game release|NA|December 5, 2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alice Gold |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/alice-gold/1100-2656010/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Contributor Missing Headline |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2000-12-05/contributor-missing-headline-krdq1sdj |access-date=2023-03-28 |newspaper=Bloomberg| date=December 5, 2000 }}</ref>}}'''Mac OS'''{{Video game release|NA|July 13, 2001<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-06-20 |title=Aspyr: Inside Aspyr |url=http://www.aspyr.com/inside.php?p_query=events |access-date=2023-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030620202408/http://www.aspyr.com/inside.php?p_query=events |archive-date=June 20, 2003 }}</ref>}}
| genre = [[Action-adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
}}
'''''American McGee's Alice''''' is a 2000 [[virtual camera system|third-person]] [[dark fantasy]] [[Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] [[video game]] developed by [[Rogue Entertainment]] under the direction of designer [[American McGee]] and published by [[Electronic Arts]]  under the EA Games banner. The game was originally released for [[Windows]] and [[Mac OS]]. Although a planned [[PlayStation 2]] port was cancelled, the game was later released digitally for the [[PlayStation 3]] and [[Xbox 360]] via downloadable content for [[Alice: Madness Returns|its sequel]].

The game's premise is based on the [[Lewis Carroll]] novels ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'' (1865) and ''[[Through the Looking-Glass]]'' (1871) but presents a gloomy, cruel and violent version of the setting. The game centers on the novels' protagonist [[Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Alice]], whose family is killed in a house fire years before the story of the game takes place. After several years of treatment in a psychiatric clinic, the emotionally traumatized Alice makes a mental retreat to [[Wonderland (fictional country)|Wonderland]], which has been disfigured by her injured psyche.

''American McGee's Alice'' uses the [[id Tech 3]] game engine, which was previously used in ''[[Quake III Arena]]'' and redesigned for this game by [[Ritual Entertainment]]. The game was met with positive critical reception, with reviewers commending the high artistic and technical quality of the level design while criticizing the excessive linearity of the gameplay. As of September 2017, ''American McGee's Alice'' has sold over 1.5 million copies. A sequel, ''[[Alice: Madness Returns]]'', was released in 2011.

==Gameplay==
''American McGee's Alice'' is a third-person [[action game]] in which the player controls the titular character Alice along a linear route.<ref name=IGN>{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/reviews/14054.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124145600/http://pc.ign.com/reviews/14054.html |title=''American McGee's Alice'' review |last=Lopez |first=Vincent |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=Snowball.com |date=December 5, 2000 |archive-date=January 24, 2001 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=GSpot>{{cite web |url=http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0%2C10867%2C2662510%2C00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010204131800/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/stories/reviews/0,10867,2662510,00.html |title=PC Reviews: ''American McGee's Alice'' Review |last=Wolpaw |first=Erik |website=[[GameSpot]] |publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] |date=December 8, 2000 |archive-date=February 4, 2001 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Alice can communicate with [[non-player character]]s, fight off [[Mob (gaming)|enemies]] and [[Boss (video gaming)|bosses]], and solve [[puzzle]]s. Along with the basic actions of walking and jogging, Alice can jump, cling to ledges, climb and swing on ropes, swim in water, and glide over columns of steam by using her inflated dress as a makeshift parachute. The game can be played at four difficulty levels: "Easy", Medium", "Hard" and "Nightmare". The game's levels feature many platforms and other obstacles not based on artificial intelligence as well as puzzles that require solving for further passage through the game.

Throughout the game, Alice can obtain up to ten different weapons, known as "toys", for use against enemies. Most toys have two modes of use, which differ in the method and strength of the attack. The first toy acquired by Alice is the Vorpal Blade, which, along with the Croquet Mallet, can be used for basic melee attacks. Toys with longer range include the Ice Wand and an explosive jack-in-the-box. One particular toy, the Jabberwock's Eye Staff, is essential to the narrative and is assembled from pieces scattered throughout the setting. The game's combat system implements automatic target designation: if an enemy character is nearby, the player's weapon sight is automatically fixed upon that enemy. Outside of combat, the sight plays the role of a jump indicator by taking on the shape of two footprints that appear on the surface of any place that Alice would land if she made a jump.

Because the game takes place within Alice's imagination, the [[health (gaming)|health mechanic]] is represented as "sanity", which is displayed as a red bar on the left-hand side of the screen. The sanity meter decreases when Alice sustains damage from enemy attacks or an environmental hazard. When the sanity meter is depleted, the game [[Game over|prematurely ends]], after which it can be continued from where the game was last [[Saved game|saved]]. A [[magic (gaming)|magic mechanic]] is represented as "willpower", and it is displayed as a blue bar on the right-hand side of the screen. Willpower is consumed when almost any toy is used, and a toy will not serve its function when Alice's willpower is too low. Certain amounts of sanity or willpower can be restored by collecting crystals of "meta-essence", the life force of Wonderland. Crystals of "meta-substance", representing the power of imagination, restore sanity and willpower simultaneously. All crystal types can be found scattered across levels and some respawn within certain places. Meta-substance can be obtained after defeating an enemy; the volume of the meta-substance is dependent on the strength of the defeated enemy.

Certain uncommon items can be found throughout the game that enhance Alice's abilities: "Ragebox Elixir" increases the damage dealt by Alice with the Vorpal Blade, the "Darkened Looking Glass" makes Alice invisible to enemies, and "Grasshopper Tea" augments Alice's speed and jumping height. These items change Alice's appearance and their effects are limited to a short period of time, after which Alice returns to her original state.

==Plot==
[[File:Alice Map.jpg|thumb|right|World map of Wonderland]]
In 1863, [[Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Alice Liddell]] is awoken from a dream of Wonderland by a house fire. Although she is able to save herself, her parents are killed and she is left with serious burns and psychological damage. Alice is brought to Rutledge Asylum in a state of [[catatonia]], where several years of treatment fail to rouse her from her stupor. When Alice's toy rabbit seems to call to her for help, she mentally retreats to Wonderland, which appears to have been disfigured by her broken mind. Alice meets the [[Cheshire Cat]], who invites her to follow the [[White Rabbit]]. She learns from nearby village inhabitants that the [[Queen of Hearts (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Queen of Hearts]] has put Wonderland in decline and despondency, and that the White Rabbit has promised a champion in Alice. Alice is directed to an old gnome who can aid her pursuit of the White Rabbit by reducing her size. The gnome and Alice infiltrate the Fortress of Doors and enter the school inside, where they create an elixir that shrinks Alice and allows her passage to the Vale of Tears.

After aiding the [[Mock Turtle]] in retrieving his stolen shell from the [[Duchess (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Duchess]], Alice catches up to the White Rabbit, who takes her in the direction of the [[Caterpillar (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Caterpillar]] before he is crushed by the normal-sized [[Hatter (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Hatter]]'s foot. Alice meets with the Caterpillar, who explains to her that Wonderland's current form is the result of Alice's [[survivor guilt]] and advises her to slay the Queen of Hearts to restore Wonderland's integrity. Alice returns to normal size after nibbling from a mushroom guarded by the Voracious Centipede. In the center of a [[plateau]], Alice discovers a piece of the Jabberwock's Eye Staff. The voice of an unseen oracle tells Alice that before the Queen of Hearts can be slain, Alice must first eliminate the Queen's sentinel – the [[Jabberwocky|Jabberwock]], who she must kill to obtain the final piece of the Eye Staff. In her search for the remaining pieces of the Eye Staff, Alice defeats the [[Red King (Through the Looking-Glass)|Red King]] in the chess-themed Looking-Glass Land, as well as the Hatter's minions [[Tweedledum and Tweedledee]]. Alice later finds that the Hatter is conducting cruel experiments on the [[March Hare]] and [[The Dormouse|Dormouse]], and he is keeping the [[Gryphon (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Gryphon]] captive. After killing the Hatter, Alice frees the Gryphon, who offers to rally forces against the Queen of Hearts and takes Alice to the Land of Fire and Brimstone, the abode of the Jabberwock. Within the remains of Alice's old home, the Jabberwock wracks Alice with guilt over her parents' deaths and overpowers her in a fight until the Gryphon returns and rescues Alice by depriving the Jabberwock of one of his eyes.

With the Jabberwock's Eye Staff fully assembled, the Gryphon directs Alice to Queensland and takes off with the intention of stopping the Jabberwock himself. On her way to the Queen of Hearts's castle, Alice sees the Gryphon and the Jabberwock engaged in an aerial battle, which ends with the Gryphon mortally wounded. Following Alice's victory against the Jabberwock, the dying Gryphon entrusts Alice with the final battle against the Queen of Hearts. At the entrance to the Queen's Hall, the Cheshire Cat attempts to confess to Alice about the nature of the Queen of Hearts, but he is suddenly executed as he states that "You are two parts of the same..." Alice engages in a fight with a figure puppeteered by the real Queen of Hearts, a giant fleshy tentacled creature who warns Alice that destroying her will destroy them both. Upon Alice's final victory over the Queen of Hearts, Wonderland is restored, and many of the characters who had died in the journey are revived. Her mind repaired, Alice leaves Rutledge Asylum.

==Development==
===Conception===
After leaving [[id Software]] in 1997, creative director [[American McGee]] was inspired to design a game that did not involve space marines, guns, aliens and outer space, which were the common themes in the [[Doom (series)|''Doom'']] and [[Quake (series)|''Quake'']] series.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/fyOl0ydiVGg Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151018085346/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyOl0ydiVGg Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite episode |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyOl0ydiVGg |title=Leo's Interview with American McGee |series=[[The Screen Savers]] |network=[[TechTV]] |via=[[YouTube]] |last=Laporte |first=Leo |author-link=Leo Laporte |date=February 21, 2001}}{{cbignore}}</ref> McGee's dark and lustrous image of ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' was primarily inspired by the [[The Crystal Method|Crystal Method]] track [[(Can't You) Trip Like I Do|"Trip Like I Do"]], in which he heard the word "wonder".<ref name="Stomped">{{cite web |url=http://www.stomped.com/published/jcal9657971591.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815221330/http://www.stomped.com/published/jcal9657971591.html |title=American McGee Interview |website=Stomped |last=Callaham |first=John |date=August 9, 2000 |archive-date=August 15, 2000}}</ref><ref name="The Art of Alice: Madness Returns">{{cite book |last=McGee |first=American |title=The Art of Alice: Madness Returns |date=2011 |publisher=Dark Horse Comics |location=Milwaukee, OR |isbn=978-1-59582-697-8 |pages=6–7}}</ref> Following this inspiration, McGee and his creative partner R.J. Berg began sketching a narrative and preliminary designs. McGee's goal was to present what he considered to be a natural extension of the setting and characters of the original ''Alice'' novels. Many of the early experiments with evolving the material of the novel – which included [[manga]], futuristic, cartoon and sexual interpretations – strayed from McGee's intended direction. Sketches of Alice, the Cheshire Cat and the Hatter by Terry Smith and Norm Felchle played a decisive role in establishing the game's visual style and served as a foundation for subsequent concept art.<ref name="The Art of Alice: Madness Returns"/> McGee sought to omit shortcomings in products that he had previously designed, such as recreating reality instead of creating a fantastic world, reusing traditional weapons, and unremarkable characters.<ref name="Stomped"/> The game had a budget of $4.5 million.<ref>{{cite web |first=Joseph |last=Gelmis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/93259659/newsday-suffolk-edition/ |title=Where Fantasy Meets Reality |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |pages=128–129 |date=December 27, 2000 |access-date=January 23, 2022 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

While working on the game's plot, McGee considered several approaches to Alice's return to Wonderland, one of which involved a modern-day Alice murdering her abusive stepfather in reality while journeying through Wonderland, which was rejected by EA. Another approach involved the projection of Alice's parents and acquaintances onto the characters of Wonderland and Alice investigating the cause of her father's death. After discarding this concept as too complicated, McGee ultimately aimed for "the simplest story that told the most".<ref name="HappyPuppy">{{cite web |url=http://www.happypuppy.com/features/interviews/americanmc-in-1b.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124064400/http://www.happypuppy.com/features/interviews/americanmc-in-1b.html |title=An Interview with American McGee, Part II |last1=Miller |first1=Jennifer |last2=Fryman |first2=Avi |publisher=Happy Puppy |date=December 15, 2000 |archive-date=January 24, 2001}}</ref><ref name="Gamasutra">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/interview-with-american-mcgee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110112452/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3049/interview_with_american_mcgee.php |title=Interview with American McGee |last=McLean–Foreman |first=John |publisher=[[Gamasutra]] |date=July 25, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-date=November 10, 2011}}</ref> Aside from the reappearance of characters and locations mentioned in the novels, no references to the novels' plots are made in the game,<ref name="GameGirlz">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamegirlz.com/articles/aliceprofile.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010302124008/http://www.gamegirlz.com/articles/aliceprofile.shtml |title=McGee's ''Alice'': Character Profile |last=Beal |first=Vangie |publisher=GameGirlz |date=October 17, 2000 |archive-date=March 2, 2001}}</ref> as McGee did not intend for the game to be a continuation or competing version of Carroll's work.<ref name="IGNBerg">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/086/086095p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813055030/http://pc.ign.com/articles/086/086095p1.html |title=''American McGee's Alice'' Interview |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=October 9, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 13, 2007}}</ref> The development team solely used the original novels as reference material, ignoring film adaptations and other derivative works.<ref name="GameLoftInterview">{{cite web |url=http://www.gameloft.co.uk/action/index.php?file=mcgee_interview_1_131200 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010405202740/http://www.gameloft.co.uk/action/index.php?file=mcgee_interview_1_131200 |title=INTERVIEW: American McGee |publisher=GameLoft |date=April 5, 2001 |archive-date=April 5, 2001}}</ref>

The game's title, which includes McGee's name, was chosen at EA's insistence, primarily for the ease of registering and protecting a new [[trademark]]. McGee admitted that he did not support the title, as he opined that it put the rest of the development team in the background.<ref name="Stomped"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.justadventure.com/Interviews/American_McGee/American_McGee.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010501044802/http://www.justadventure.com/Interviews/American_McGee/American_McGee.asp |title=Cleaning Up After the White Rabbit: An Intimate Conversation with American McGee |last=Sluganski |first=Randy |publisher=JustAdventure |date=May 1, 2001 |archive-date=May 1, 2001}}</ref> ''American McGee's Alice'' is McGee's debut work as a lead game designer.<ref name="GameLoftReview">{{cite web |url=http://www.gameloft.co.uk/action/index.php?file=alice_review_181200 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417203309/http://www.gameloft.co.uk/action/index.php?file=alice_review_181200 |title=REVIEW: ''American McGee's Alice'' |last=Fahey |first=Rob |publisher=GameLoft |date=April 17, 2001 |archive-date=April 17, 2001}}</ref>

===Development and marketing===
EA licensed [[Ritual Entertainment]]'s ''[[Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.²]]'' engine, which is in turn a modified [[id Tech 3|''Quake III Arena'' engine]]. The most notable changes in the engine include the use of the Tiki model system, which enables the engine to use [[skeletal animation]] among other things, the Babble dialog system which enables lip synching of audio with character animations, dynamic music system, scriptable camera, particle system and extended shader support.<ref>{{cite web |title=UberTools for Quake III v4.0 |url=http://www.ritual.com/index.php?section=technology/overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623193637/http://www.ritual.com/index.php?section=technology%2Foverview |work=ritual.com |publisher=[[Ritual Entertainment]] |archive-date=June 23, 2007 |access-date=August 11, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The changes implemented to the engine for ''Alice'' remained minimal however. The game's [[.bsp (Quake)|.bsp]] files even retain ''F.A.K.K.²''{{'}}s headers, albeit sporting a different version number.

An early version of the game featured the ability to summon the Cheshire Cat to aid the player in battle. Though this feature was removed from the final product, beta screenshots of this version do exist online. In the final product, the player can press a button to summon the Cheshire Cat at any time, though he merely provides cryptic advice on the current situation and does nothing to aid Alice if she is being attacked. An ''Alice'' port for the then-unreleased [[PlayStation 2]] was also in development but was later cancelled, which caused Rogue Entertainment to shut down, another decision which angered American McGee and resulted him leaving EA in frustration.<ref name="The Art of Alice: Madness Returns"/>

The game's box art was altered after release to show Alice holding the Ice Wand instead of the [[Vorpal sword|Vorpal Blade]] and to reduce the skeletal character of the Cheshire Cat's anatomy. EA cited complaints from various consumer groups as its reason for altering the original art, though McGee stated the alteration was made due to internal concerns at EA.<ref>[http://www.americanmcgee.com/forum/index.php?topic=811.msg53555#msg53555 Alice and moral panics?] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328222555/http://www.americanmcgee.com/forum/index.php?topic=811.msg53555 |date=March 28, 2008}}</ref>

''Alice'' was EA's first [[Entertainment Software Rating Board#Ratings|M-rated]] game,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/07/alice-madness-returns/ |title=Q&A: American McGee Returns to Alice's Nightmare Wonderland |date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=July 26, 2010 |magazine=Wired |author=Chris Kohler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728090156/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/07/alice-madness-returns/ |archive-date=July 28, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> a rating which McGee fought to obtain, because he did not want an ''Alice'' product to be sold at Christmas time, since parents could be confused, thinking that the game was intended to be a gift for children. However, in a 2009 interview, McGee expressed regret for his decision and said that the violence in the game did not warrant an M-rating; he felt that consumers should buy products responsibly after referring to the recommendations of the  [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Halpin |first1=Spencer |title=Spencer Halpin's Moral Kombat |url=http://moralkombatmovie.com/index.htm |website=Spencer Halpin's Moral Kombat |publisher=Cinetic Rights Management |access-date=August 18, 2015}}</ref>

==Soundtrack==
The game's music was composed and recorded by [[Chris Vrenna]], and was released as a [[soundtrack]] by [[Six Degrees Records]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/american-mcgees-alice-original-score-mw0000015235 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620161630/http://www.allmusic.com/album/american-mcgees-alice-original-score-mw0000015235 |title=''American McGee's Alice (Original Score)'' |last=Henderson |first=Alex |website=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[Rovi Corporation]] |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |access-date=March 10, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> The album was released on CD on October 16, 2001, and on digital platforms on April 24, 2007. The style of the soundtrack is dominated by [[Ambient music|ambient]] and [[Experimental music|experimental]] [[Electronic music|electronica]]. In addition to composing the music, Vrenna mixed, produced and arranged the album. He spent several months on [[eBay]], where he purchased mechanical toys, a [[xylophone]], a [[cuckoo clock]] and [[tubular bells]] in order to record sound [[Sample (music)|samples]] for the tracks. The soundtrack features toy instruments, percussion, music box sounds, ticking clocks, creaking doors, female voices, maniacal laughter, screaming, crying, and baby talk. Mark Blasquez wrote the lyrics, Peter Reardon remixed the track "Flying On The Wings Of Steam (Remix)", and Jeff Antebi managed it. The recording featured singer [[Jessicka (singer)|Jessicka]].

[[Marilyn Manson]] was originally involved scoring the music for the game.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mansonusa.com/celebritarian/?page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427034756/http://www.mansonusa.com/celebritarian/?page=3 |title=Dramatic New Scenes for Celebritarian Needs |website=MansonUSA |date=November 3, 2005 |archive-date=April 27, 2006 |access-date=July 2, 2024 |url-status=dead}}</ref> His composition has been described by American McGee as "very cool" and having "a very beautiful [[Beatles]]-in-their-[[harpsichord]]-and-[[Hookah]]-pipe-days-sound to it." Manson's contributions persisted into the final product, notably the influence of [[alchemy]] and the character of the Mad Hatter whose adaptation was somewhat influenced by him; for a time Manson was considered for the voice of the Hatter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.americanmcgee.com/forum/index.php?topic=366.msg18101 |title=Manson on American McGee's Alice |access-date=August 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004541/http://www.americanmcgee.com/forum/index.php?topic=366.msg18101#msg18101 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Promotion and merchandise ==
[[File:Life-sized statue of Alice and Cheshire Cat.jpeg|thumb|296x296px|[[Statue|Life-sized]] statues of [[Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland)|Alice]] and the [[Cheshire Cat]] on their stands]]
In 2000, prior to the games' release, McGee hosted the US national ''Alice Wicked Wonderland Tour'' with [[Electronic music|electronic]] musician [[Green Velvet]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-10-17 |title=Alice Wonderland Wicked Tour |url=http://www.alice.ea.com/tour.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001017194726/http://www.alice.ea.com/tour.cfm |archive-date=October 17, 2000 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=[[Electronic Arts | EA]] |url-status=live }}</ref> At these shows, footage of the game would be released and would be promoted as a [[multimedia]] event. Eventually photos from the San Francisco shows on the tour would be available on the official ''Alice'' site.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2001-12-10 |title=Party Pictures |url=http://www.alice.ea.com/partypics.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010111074600/http://www.alice.ea.com/partypics.html |archive-date=January 11, 2001 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=[[Electronic Arts | EA]]}}</ref> A strategy guide by [[Prima Games]] was published in 2000.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Prima Official eGuide |first=Archived |url=https://archive.org/details/American_McGees_Alice_Prima_Official_eGuide/mode/2up |title=American McGees Alice |publisher=Prima Games, division of Random House Inc. |year=2000 |isbn=0761529799 |location=Lava Ridge Court, Roseville, California |language=EN |lccn=00109241}}</ref> By January 2002, along with the game's film adaptation, a comic book series and a toy line dedicated to the game were in development.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://money.cnn.com/2002/01/24/technology/column_gaming/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020127003048/http://money.cnn.com/2002/01/24/technology/column_gaming/ |title=A new kind of movie? |last=Morris |first=Chris |website=[[CNN]] |publisher=[[AOL Time Warner]] |date=January 24, 2002 |archive-date=January 27, 2002 |access-date=May 3, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2004, EA and [[Atari]] released a collaboration 7" clear blue vinyl ''American McGee's Alice'' LP of two sides, Side A: 'Wonderland Woods ([[Tweaker (band)|Tweaker]] Remix)' and Side B: 'Take the Pill' from [[Enter the Matrix]] composed, produced and remixed by Chris Vrenna. These LPs were limited to 500 copies and signed by McGee and Vrenna and distributed by [[Waxploitation Records]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2004-06-03 |title=American McGee's Alice / Enter The Matrix split 7" (vinyl) |url=http://www.waxploitation.com/html/records.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040603175119/http://www.waxploitation.com/html/records.html |archive-date=June 3, 2004 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=[[Waxploitation]]}}</ref>

In 2006, Muckle Mannequins created [[Statue|life-sized]] statues of Alice and the Cheshire Cat on stands with variants for video game stores for international promotion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American McGee's Alice {{!}} Lifesize Heroes |url=https://www.lifesize-heroes.com/en/shop/movie-games-figures/american-mcgees-alice/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819015838/https://www.lifesize-heroes.com/en/shop/movie-games-figures/american-mcgees-alice/ |archive-date=2024-08-19 |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Lifesize Heroes}}</ref> Costume ware was released under McGee's company Mysterious''.''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Andy |date=2023-04-12 |title=American McGee leaves game development as EA passes on 'Alice: Asylum' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/american-mcgee-leaves-game-development-as-ea-passes-on-alice-asylum-3429054 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250613041250/https://www.nme.com/news/american-mcgee-leaves-game-development-as-ea-passes-on-alice-asylum-3429054 |archive-date=2025-06-13 |access-date=2025-06-13 |work=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> Milo's Workshop completed four editions of releases from 2000 to 2009 of official figurines with rare editions of variants of several ''Alice'' characters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saylor |first=Jeff |date=2022-02-01 |title=AMERICAN MCGEE'S ALICE In Development as TV Series |url=https://www.figures.com/2022/02/01/american-mcgees-alice-in-development-as-tv-series/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201174341/https://www.figures.com/2022/02/01/american-mcgees-alice-in-development-as-tv-series/ |archive-date=2022-02-01 |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Figures |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2010, Epic Weapons created a life-size replica of the [[Jabberwocky|Vorpal Blade]] to commemorate the game's tenth anniversary. The blade was made from [[stainless steel]] with patterns [[Engraving|engraved]] on the blade and handle. The company created 1,000 copies of the blade, with the first 25 being sold in an [[auction]] held from July 22 to July 31, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.epicweapons.com/shop/product.php?productid=16156&cat=258&page=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918155545/http://www.epicweapons.com/shop/product.php?productid=16156&cat=258&page=1 |title=American McGee's Alice Vorpal Blade |website=Epic Weapons |archive-date=September 18, 2010 |access-date=August 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/american-mcgees-alice-vorpal-blade-goes-snicker-snack-f-5586163 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230212153448/https://kotaku.com/american-mcgees-alice-vorpal-blade-goes-snicker-snack-f-5586163 |title=''American McGee's Alice'' Vorpal Blade Goes Snicker-Snack For Real |website=[[Kotaku]] |publisher=[[G/O Media]] |last=Fahey |first=Mike |date=July 13, 2010 |archive-date=February 12, 2023 |access-date=August 19, 2024 |language=en |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, for ''[[Alice: Madness Returns]]'', there was a new Vorpal blade, in which the two were sold as a packaged deal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-09-02 |title=Alice: Madness Returns and Alice Vorpal Blade |url=http://www.epicweapons.com/shop/home.php?cat=258 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902083711/http://www.epicweapons.com/shop/home.php?cat=258 |archive-date=September 2, 2011 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Epic Weapons |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Aggregators -->
| MC = 85/100<ref name=MC>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/american-mcgees-alice |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101009043827/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/american-mcgees-alice |title=''American McGee's Alice'' for PC |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |archive-date=October 9, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!-- Reviews -->
| Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23406&tab=review |title=American McGee's Alice (PC) - Review |last=Denenberg |first=Darren |publisher=[[AllGame]] |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141113224123/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=23406&tab=review |archive-date=November 13, 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| CGW = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_200.pdf |title=Alice's Bad Trip (''American McGee's Alice'' Review) |last=Ardai |first=Charles |magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] |issue=200 |date=March 2001 |pages=102–03 |access-date=July 2, 2017}}</ref>
| Edge = 4/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=American McGee's Alice |author=Edge staff |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |issue=93 |date=January 2001}}</ref>
| EuroG = 8/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_alice |title=Alice (PC) |last=Carter |first=Ben |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=January 6, 2001 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124080600/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/r_alice |archive-date=January 24, 2001 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GI = 9/10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200102/R03.0806.1157.31963.htm |title=American McGee's Alice |last=Brogger |first=Kristian |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |issue=94 |date=February 2001 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604010228/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200102/R03.0806.1157.31963.htm |archive-date=June 4, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GamePro = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/7540.shtml |title=American McGee's Alice Review for PC on GamePro.com |first=Sean |last=Molloy |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=December 5, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207065826/http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/7540.shtml |archive-date=February 7, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GameRev = B<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32874-curiouser-and-curiouser-review |title=Alice Review |author=The Mock Dodgson |publisher=[[Game Revolution]] |date=December 2000 |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506233419/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/alice |archive-date=May 6, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GSpot = 7.3/10<ref name=GSpot/>
| GSpy = 93%<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/december00/alice/index.shtm |title=American McGee's Alice |last=Salgado |first=Carlos "dr.angryman" |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |date=December 19, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051208205325/http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/december00/alice/index.shtm |archive-date=December 8, 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| GameZone = 10/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/american_mcgee_s_alice_pc_review |title=American McGee's Alice - PC - Review |author=The Badger |publisher=GameZone |date=December 10, 2000 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120022455/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r14078.htm |archive-date=January 20, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| Hyper = 84/100<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Shea |first=Cam |date=March 2001 |title=American McGee's Alice |magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]] |issue=89 |pages=54–55}}</ref>
| IGN = 9.4/10<ref name=IGN/>
| NGen = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="NG"/>
| PCGUS = 88%<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-02-13.html |title=American McGee's Alice |last=Osborn |first=Chuck |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |date=February 2001 |page=50 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041028181637/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2001-02-13.html |archive-date=October 28, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| XPlay = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techtv.com/products/games/story/0,23008,3306444,00.html |title=Alice Review |last=Roberts |first=Josh |publisher=[[X-Play]] |date=January 25, 2001 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010127121200/http://www.techtv.com/products/games/story/0%2C23008%2C3306444%2C00.html |archive-date=January 27, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]''
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/012401_alice.html |title=Alice's wonderland game disturbing, yet oddly fun |last=Saltzman |first=Marc |newspaper=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |date=January 24, 2001 |access-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010419154945/http://cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/012401_alice.html |archive-date=April 19, 2001 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

In the United States, ''American McGee's Alice'' sold 360,000 units by August 2006. As of September 2017, the game has sold 1.5 million copies.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Joseph |first1=Remington |title=American McGee Working On Alice 3 Proposal |url=https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/american-mcgee-working-alice-3-proposal/ |website=CGMagazine |access-date=18 November 2021 |date=3 September 2017}}</ref> At the time, this led ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' to declare it the country's 47th-best-selling computer game released since January 2000.<ref name=edgesales>{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century| author=''Edge'' Staff | date=August 25, 2006 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The game was ultimately released on December 5, 2000,<ref name="IGN"/> receiving praise for its visuals; the graphics were very elaborate for their time. Many levels depict a world of chaos and wonder, some reminiscent of the inside of an asylum or a madhouse, visually linking Wonderland to Alice's reality. The exterior views of Wonderland show the Queen of Hearts' tentacles dipping out of buildings and mountain sides, especially in Queensland. ''Alice'' received "favorable" reviews according to the [[Review aggregator|review aggregation]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name=MC/> [[GameSpot]] said, "While you'll undoubtedly enjoy the imaginative artwork, you might end up disappointed with just how straightforward the underlying game really is."<ref name=GSpot/>

In her article "Wonderland's become quite strange: From Lewis Carroll's ''Alice'' to ''American McGee's Alice''", literary critic Cathlena Martin argues that the game "provides a reinterpreted version of Alice and the whole of wonderland that may have some players questioning which aspects are from Carroll and which are from McGee, thus potentially leading to a rereading of Carroll through the darker lens of McGee's Alice. This reinterpretation of Alice shows the versatility and mutability of the story across time and discourse." Martin also notes that the game is successful largely in part to the narrative structure of Carroll's tales, which are built around games - cards and chess - themselves.<ref>{{cite book |last=Martin |first=Cathlena |title=Beyond Adaptation: Essays on Radical Transformations of Original Works |date=2010 |publisher=McFarland and Co. |location=Jefferson |pages=136–137 |chapter=10}}</ref>

Blake Fischer reviewed the PC version of the game for ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'', rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "''Alice'' is an incredibly beautiful and well-designed shooter. If you're looking for more, you may pass, but otherwise it's a game you won't want to miss."<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine |last=Fischer |first=Blake |title=Finals |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |volume=4 |issue=3 |publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]] |date=March 2001 |page=90}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Film adaptation==
===Conception and Wes Craven===
A [[film adaptation]] of ''American McGee's Alice'' was planned prior to the game's release. Scott Faye, a spokesman for [[Dimension Films]] and an old acquaintance of McGee, visited EA to negotiate an adaptation of an EA product. Faye and other Dimension Films representatives were shown gameplay footage of ''Alice'' and were impressed by its visuals. Later, [[Miramax]] head [[Bob Weinstein]] was shown the game's trailer, after which he immediately (and without waiting for the opinion of the board of directors) supported the production of a film adaptation.<ref name="WellRoundedMovie">{{cite web |url=http://www.well-rounded.com/games/reviews/alicemovie.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010708005701/http://www.well-rounded.com/games/reviews/alicemovie.html |title=American McGee Interview |last=Morris |first=Chris |publisher=Well Rounded Entertainment |date=January 24, 2001 |archive-date=July 8, 2001}}</ref> On July 5, 2000, FGN Online published an exclusive piece claiming that EA had signed an agreement with Miramax to create a film based on the game. According to the publisher's source, American McGee would be involved in the film's production, potentially as a [[creative director]] or co-producer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fgnonline.com/news/14290.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817180630/http://www.fgnonline.com/news/14290.html |title=''Alice'' Goes to Hollywood |publisher=FGN Online |last=Ogden |first=Gavin |date=July 5, 2000 |archive-date=August 17, 2000}}</ref>

On December 7, 2000, McGee formally announced the film adaptation, which had been entrusted with Collision Entertainment, a subsidiary of Dimension Films, after ten months of negotiations.<ref name="WellRoundedMovie"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Linder |first=Brian |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/036/036660p1.html |title=Wes Craven to Dark Wonderland |website=[[IGN]] |date=December 7, 2000 |access-date=February 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026034336/http://movies.ign.com/articles/036/036660p1.html |archive-date=October 26, 2007}}</ref><ref name="GameLoftInterview2">{{cite web |url=http://www.gameloft.co.uk/action/index.php?file=mcgee_interview_2_131200 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010414032144/http://www.gameloft.co.uk/action/index.php?file=mcgee_interview_2_131200 |title=INTERVIEW: American McGee (Part 2) |publisher=GameLoft |date=April 14, 2001 |archive-date=April 14, 2001}}</ref> [[Wes Craven]] and [[John August]] were attached as director and screenwriter, with McGee co-producing the film alongside Collision Entertainment, and Abandon Entertainment acting as international distributor.<ref name="WellRoundedMovie"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/bpihw/20010808/en/_payne_game_screen-bound_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010814212245/http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/bpihw/20010808/en/_payne_game_screen-bound_1.html |title=''Payne'' game screen-bound |last=Gaudiosi |first=John |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |date=August 9, 2001 |archive-date=August 14, 2001}}</ref> No actors had yet been signed on, but [[Natalie Portman]] was rumored to have expressed interest.<ref name="WellRoundedMovie"/> [[Milla Jovovich]] and [[Christina Ricci]] were also rumored to be attached.<ref name="GellarIsAlice">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/06/22/gellar-is-alice |title=Gellar is Alice |website=[[IGN]] |date=June 21, 2005 |access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref> In September 2001, August explained that he had turned in a [[film treatment|script treatment]] for ''Alice'' and was not attached to develop fuller drafts for the film adaptation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/306/306276p1.html |title=August Talks ''Alice'' |website=[[IGN]] |date=September 25, 2001 |access-date=February 13, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070206142453/http://movies.ign.com/articles/306/306276p1.html |archive-date=February 6, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2001, Craven announced that the film would be a computer-animated feature with a tentative 2003 release date.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2001-12%2F26%2F12.00.film |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020214105950/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/art-main.html?2001-12%2F26%2F12.00.film |title=Craven Develops New ''Alice'' |publisher=[[SyFy|Sci-Fi Wire]] |date=December 26, 2001 |archive-date=February 14, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011231/en/film-craven_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020103013357/http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011231/en/film-craven_1.html |title=Craven preps ''Alice'' as computer-animated feature |last=Bing |first=Jonathan |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |date=December 31, 2001 |archive-date=January 3, 2002}}</ref> In February 2002, Dimension Films signed brother screenwriters Jon and Erich Hoeber to write a new screenplay for ''Alice''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/324/324400p1.html | title=Scribes Pegged for ''Alice'' Game-to-Film Adaptation | website=[[IGN]] |date=February 11, 2002 | access-date=February 13, 2007}}</ref> In July 2003, the brothers announced that they had completed the script for the film adaptation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/431/431089p1.html |title=Games-to-Film Update: ''Alice'', ''Oz'' |website=[[IGN]] |date=July 29, 2003 |access-date=February 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207120116/http://movies.ign.com/articles/431/431089p1.html |archive-date=December 7, 2006}}</ref> On March 4, 2004, McGee reported that the project had moved from Dimension Films to [[20th Century Fox]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/03/04/mcgee-movie-update |title=McGee Movie Update |website=[[IGN]] |last=Linder |first=Brian |date=March 4, 2004 |access-date=December 31, 2020}}</ref>

===Marcus Nispel===
On June 21, 2005, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' reported that [[Universal Pictures]] had acquired the film and signed [[Sarah Michelle Gellar]] on for the lead role, with [[Marcus Nispel]] attached to direct and the Hoeber brothers still attached to write.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000965165 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630022655/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000965165 |title=Universal to put Gellar in Wonderland |last1=Kit |first1=Borys |last2=Gaudiosi |first2=John |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 21, 2005 |archive-date=June 30, 2009}}</ref> On February 8, 2006, Scott Faye, who had become a producer of the project, announced that filming would begin in the summer of 2006, with a budget of $40 to $50 million and a tentative 2007 release date.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/40714/alice-and-max-on-their |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525051337/http://www.shacknews.com/article/40714/alice-and-max-on-their |title=''Alice'' and ''Max'' on Their Way to the Big Screen |website=[[Shacknews]] |last=Remo |first=Chris |date=February 8, 2006 |archive-date=May 25, 2013}}</ref> By 2008, the project was in [[Turnaround (filmmaking)|turnaround]], and Nispel and Gellar's involvement had ceased. Rumors circulated of [[Jane March]] being cast as the Queen of Hearts, which Faye denied.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2008/06/20/american-mcgees-alice-film-interview/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309210511/http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2008/06/20/american-mcgees-alice-film-interview/ |title=''American McGee's Alice'' – Film Interview |last=McGee |first=American |date=June 20, 2008 |archive-date=March 9, 2012}}</ref>

===Short films===
In July 2013, American McGee announced that he had reached an agreement with Collision Entertainment, which still owned the ''Alice'' film rights. The company stated its readiness to transfer these rights to McGee, but demanded $500,000 for them. McGee decided to raise this amount from crowdfunding via [[Kickstarter]]. By this time, funds were already being raised via Kickstarter for [[Spicy Horse]]'s ''OZombie'' project; according to McGee, any surplus funds would be set aside for film production. With an additional $100,000 raised, Spicy Horse would be able to create short animated films, and if the initially required amount is exceeded by $500,000, the studio would receive the rights to create a full-length feature film.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/3/4491250/american-mcgee-alice-film-rights-ozombie-kickstarter |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707150809/https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/3/4491250/american-mcgee-alice-film-rights-ozombie-kickstarter |title=American McGee to raise funds for ''Alice'' film rights through ''OZombie''{{'}}s Kickstarter campaign |last=Tach |first=Dave |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=July 3, 2013 |archive-date=July 7, 2013 |access-date=March 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> On July 14, the Kickstarter campaign for ''OZombie'' was closed due to insufficient funds, with McGee shifting his focus toward securing the ''Alice'' film rights.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/15/4524386/american-mcgee-cancels-ozombie-kickstarter-to-pursue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130718085507/https://www.polygon.com/2013/7/15/4524386/american-mcgee-cancels-ozombie-kickstarter-to-pursue |title=American McGee cancels ''OZombie'' Kickstarter to pursue ''Alice'' films rights |last=Gera |first=Emily |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=July 15, 2013 |archive-date=July 18, 2013 |access-date=March 7, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

With the success of earning the funds to produce ''[[Alice: Madness Returns#Sequel|Alice: Otherlands]]'', McGee stated his desire to continue to work on the possibility of adapting the series into a feature film on Kickstarter.<ref name="Alice: Otherlands">{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/alice-otherlands |title=Alice: Otherlands|date=September 9, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/alice-otherlands/posts/662964 |title=A Night at the Opera|date=September 9, 2017 }}</ref> On February 17, 2014, McGee announced that he and his team have secured a British screenwriter to write the film's script.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/alice-otherlands/posts/751410|title=Progress and Possibilities|date=September 9, 2017 }}</ref> On April 16, 2014, he assured fans that the film is still in production and is currently working with a producer in [[Hollywood (film industry)|Hollywood]] who they have licensed the rights from, but has run into a few difficulties along the way.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/alice-otherlands/posts/813386 |title=Eyeballs, Tentacles, and Monsters|date=September 9, 2017 }}</ref>

On July 10, 2014, McGee informed fans that the progress on the feature film has come to a temporary halt. McGee stated that he had secured the rights only to develop the feature film's story and production and needed to acquire the film rights completely before proceeding further. He was speaking with potential investors and financiers to gather the $400,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=400000|start_year=2015}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) required<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/alice-otherlands/posts/908084 |title=Noble Pursuits|date=September 9, 2017 }}</ref> but on January 8, 2015, McGee stated that negotiations for the feature film had gone on a hiatus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spicyhorse/alice-otherlands/posts/1102351 |title=Happy New Year 2015!|date=September 9, 2017 }}</ref>

==Television adaptation==
On January 31, 2022, it was announced that [[Radar Pictures]] – in partnership with Abandon Entertainment – was developing a television adaptation of ''American McGee's Alice'' written and co-produced by [[David Hayter]]. No broadcaster or streaming platform has yet acquired the series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/x-men-scribe-david-hayter-boards-tv-adaptation-of-eas-american-mcgees-alice-game-exclusive-1235083248/ |title=''X-Men'' Scribe David Hayter Boards TV Adaptation of EA's ''American McGee's Alice'' Game (Exclusive) |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |website=[[Hollywood Reporter]] |date=January 31, 2022 |access-date=February 2, 2022 }}</ref> In 2025, American McGee revealed on Reddit that the series was "dead" due to a failed pitch meeting, citing its concept involving time travel and a modern-day setting as the reason it failed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reddit - The heart of the internet |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/AliceMadnessReturns/comments/1k456fs/comment/mobwtaw/?context=3&utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button |access-date=2025-10-24 |website=www.reddit.com}}</ref>

==Sequel==
{{main|Alice: Madness Returns}}
As the plans for the movie adaptation of ''American McGee's Alice'' started to take longer and longer, in 2007 interest at [[Electronic Arts]] rose in a remake of the game and work was started on a sequel.<ref>{{cite web |title=Remake American McGee's Alice in de maak |url=http://www.ng-gamer.nl/game-nieuws/3994_remake-american-mcgees-alice-in-de-maak/ |publisher=[[NG-Gamer]] |first=Martijn |last=Müller |language=nl |access-date=November 1, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080208122738/http://www.ng-gamer.nl/game-nieuws/3994_remake-american-mcgees-alice-in-de-maak/ |archive-date=February 8, 2008}}</ref> On February 19, 2009, [[Electronic Arts|EA]] CEO John Riccitiello announced at [[D.I.C.E. Summit|D.I.C.E. 2009]] that a new installment to the series is in the works for [[Xbox 360]], [[PlayStation 3]], and PC.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5156745/ea-announces-new-american-mcgees-alice-title |title=EA Announces New American McGee's Alice Title |first=Brian |last=Crecente |publisher=Kotaku.com |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=August 10, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/5156821/the-return-of-american-mcgees-alice-set-for-pc-consoles |title=The Return of American McGee's Alice Set For PC, Consoles |publisher=[[Kotaku]] |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=August 10, 2010}}</ref>

It was developed by [[Spicy Horse]], who worked on ''[[American McGee's Grimm]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/dice-2009-ea-announces-american-mcgees-alice-2/ |title=DICE 2009: EA announces American McGee's Alice 2 |access-date=February 20, 2009 |publisher=[[Joystiq]] |date=February 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221013306/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/dice-2009-ea-announces-american-mcgees-alice-2/ |archive-date=February 21, 2009 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name="alice2press">{{cite web |url=http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=366638 |title=EA and Spicy Horse Return to Wonderland for All-New Alice Title |access-date=February 20, 2009 |work=ea.com |date=February 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227084651/http://investor.ea.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=366638 |archive-date=February 27, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="destructoid">{{cite web|title=Sequel to American McGee's Alice coming to PC, consoles in 2009 |url=http://www.destructoid.com/sequel-to-american-mcgee-s-alice-coming-to-pc-consoles-in-2009-122182.phtml&?no_cache=1&comment_saved=1#comment-1141287 |last=Chester |first=Nick |website=[[Destructoid]] |date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=February 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226040439/http://www.destructoid.com/sequel-to-american-mcgee-s-alice-coming-to-pc-consoles-in-2009-122182.phtml%26?no_cache=1&comment_saved=1 |archive-date=February 26, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Two pieces of concept art were released, depicting Alice and large allied birds fighting an oversized, semi-mechanized snail and its children on top of a lighthouse,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2009/02/20/alice-sequel/ |title=The Return of Alice |access-date=February 20, 2009 |work=americanmcgee.com |date=February 20, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090221155941/http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2009/02/20/alice-sequel/| archive-date= February 21, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> and Alice swimming in a pond, with the Cheshire Cat's face in the background.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2009/05/04/hiring-three-for-art/ |title=Hiring – Three for Art |access-date=June 28, 2009 |work=americanmcgee.com |date=May 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531173142/http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2009/05/04/hiring-three-for-art/ |archive-date=May 31, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2009, a fan-made video based on the ''Alice 2'' announcement was mistaken by gaming websites as a teaser trailer for the game. In it, Alice is in therapy after a [[relapse]] nine months after the events of the first game, and she appears to [[hallucinate]] an image of the Cheshire Cat in place of her doctor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2009/11/04/return-of-alice-video-madness&feature=related |title=Return of Alice (Video Madness) |date=November 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091115090426/http://www.americanmcgee.com/wordpress/2009/11/04/return-of-alice-video-madness%26feature%3Drelated/ |archive-date=November 15, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

On June 15, 2010, [[Electronic Arts|EA]] filed a trademark on the name ''[[Alice: Madness Returns]]'', the suspected sequel to ''American McGee's Alice''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=85063663 |title=Latest Status Info |access-date=June 20, 2010 |work=tarr.uspto.gov |date=June 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100622074202/http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=85063663 |archive-date=June 22, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> While the sequel was formally announced via press release on February 19, 2009,<ref name="alice2press"/> the sequel's title was confirmed during the EA Studio Showcase the following day.

The game was released on June 14, 2011, in North America, June 16, 2011, in Europe, June 17, 2011, in the United Kingdom and July 21, 2011, in Japan<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGXfMYy4YY | title=MUlti アリス マッドネス リターンズ JPPV | website=[[YouTube]] | date=May 15, 2011 }}</ref> under the title ''[[Alice: Madness Returns]]'' for PC, Mac, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions came with a redemption code that gave the player a free download of ''American McGee's Alice''. This version is available through [[backward compatibility]] on [[Xbox One]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]], and is part of the [[EA Play]] service on these platforms. It is found under the DLC for ''Madness Returns''.

==See also==
{{Portal|2000s|Fantasy|Video games}}
*''[[Clive Barker's Undying]]'', another auteur-branded PC horror game by EA Games released around the same time

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0251576}}
* {{MobyGames|id=/american-mcgees-alice}}
*{{cite web|url=http://alice.planets.gamespy.com/ |title=Down the Rabbit Hole |access-date=January 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420105230/http://alice.planets.gamespy.com/ |archive-date=April 20, 2009 }} 
*{{cite web|url=http://www.zachhall.com/sketch.htm |title=Concept art |access-date=January 6, 2007 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802223534/http://www.zachhall.com/sketch.htm |archive-date=August 2, 2008 }}

{{Alice}}

{{Authority control}}

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