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Zynga releases Running With Friends, developed with Eat Sleep Play
Zynga has released a new game in the 'With Friends' series (which started back when the company acquired Words with Friends, a very popular Scrabble-like iOS game). Running With Friends is, as you can see above, not a fitness app, though that does sound fun. Instead, it's an endless running game, based on the Running of the Bulls, where you compete with friends to earn points and distance. The game has you running, jumping and dodging obstacles, all while trying to earn as many points as possible. As you might expect, the title is freemium, so it's free to download, and there are in-app purchases available if you'd like extra currency. Most of the games in the "With Friends" series have been super casual so far (mostly word games and simple social titles), so it's interesting to see that Zynga is upping the ante on the gameplay just a bit. Plus, this title is developed by was developed in collaboration with (see update) Eat Sleep Play, a company founded by David Jaffe that previously worked on the Twisted Metal games. "With Friends" hasn't seen a lot of action lately (though it's still a fairly big brand for Zynga), so this may be an attempt to revitalize the offerings. Update: Zynga got in touch to point out that the game wasn't developed by Eat Sleep Play directly, but that company did collaborate on some of the gameplay elements. So there's that.
David Jaffe to present keynote at GDC Game Career Seminar
On the Friday of this year's Game Developers Conference, the Game Career Seminar will offer a series of speakers and roundtables aimed toward students hoping to break into the industry. Kicking off the event will be David Jaffe, who will be delivering a keynote speech entitled "From Grunt to God to Startup: Career Lessons from the Edge of Development."Jaffe will be discussing his own history in the industry, starting from his earliest projects and lowliest jobs, to his own indie studio, Eat Sleep Play, where he's working on several unannounced Playstation 3 titles. Though infamous for his matter-of-fact approach, Jaffe is also a dynamic and engaging speaker, having previously participated in GDC events like last year's Game Design Challenge. It will be interesting to see what advice he has to impart upon the wide-eyed developers of tomorrow.
Jaffe wouldn't mind a little involvement with God of War III
David Jaffe, creator of the original God of War, says he would love to be involved somehow with God of War III, even though he's no longer with Sony. He notes that if he could figure out how to freeze time and still make it home for dinner with the family -- and if Sony would let him work on the project -- he'd do it. Jaffe says that he had a "master plan" for the God of War story when he was still with Sony and that the Santa Monica team has his notes -- but whether they want to follow them is their choice.That's just one small part of a large interview done by GameDaily BIZ with Jaffe. In the full interview, he discusses his new studio Eat, Sleep, Play and what it's like focusing on medium-sized titles. There's a pretty frank discussion about how he just couldn't get into BioShock -- he blames being too focused on the "nuts and bolts of play mechanics." There's a lot more straightforward Jaffe talk too, but honestly, did you expect anything less?
First trailer for Twisted Metal: Head On port emerges
We've just got to say it: Watching a trailer for a new Twisted Metal game makes us feel downright nostalgic. It doesn't hurt that this trailer for the upcoming PSP-to-PS2 port of Twisted Metal: Head On (now subtitled the Extra Twisted Edition) makes no efforts to seem hip or modern, sticking to the edgy, dark, metal-inspired pastiche that's been a series hallmark since its inception more than a decade ago. If you're old enough to remember Sweet Tooth and the rest of the upwardly mobile monsters he associated with (or just like making cars explode) this new offering seems to be a pretty solid deal, jam-packed with new levels, updated graphics and a bevy of bonus features. As a coming-out party for David Jaffe's Eat Sleep Play, this "everything old is new again" approach seems like a good choice. It's one he explained further today on Sony's official blog where he wrote that working on a new Twisted Metal game was "like coming home." We know exactly what you mean, Dave. We know exactly what you mean.
Jaffe pops the top on Eat Sleep Play's Logo
Ever since David Jaffe announced he was striking off on his own with new development house Eat Sleep Play, there's one particular bit of information gamers everywhere have been clamoring for. No, not the company's first original title -- what gamers really want to see is the logo.Well, the day has finally arrived. At long last fans, well-wishers and hangers-on can check out the above logo, courtesy of Newsweek. Jaffe says the soda-bottle-cap logo represents "the heart and soul of what our company is all about ... fizzy, refreshing fun." Frankly, it makes us think of Popcap Games more than anything like that.Along with the exclusive logo reveal, Newsweek has also posted up the first two parts of a three-part interview with Jaffe wherein he talks up the financial possibilities of smaller games and bravely reveals that he doesn't know what the word "remuneration" means. Careful David... those internet trolls are real sticklers for vocabulary.Read - The logo revealedRead - Newsweek Jaffe interview (part II)
David Jaffe may be independent, but he loves himself some Sony
In an interview with GamePro, Eat Sleep Play founders David Jaffe and Scott Campbell sat down and talked about their future with Sony. Now that they're independent, people have curious if this means they'll break their longstanding relationship with Sony and go multi-platform. They've already mentioned that their next 3 titles will be for the PlayStation 3, but what about after that?When GamePro brought it up, Jaffe had this to say, "Right now in the console space and the handheld space, we want to be partners with Sony as long as they will have us. We have great relationships with Sony and they have been so good to us from both a business standpoint and a personal standpoint, I would like to be on Sony's machines for as long as they'll have me."Sounds like Jaffe is pretty happy working with Sony indefinitely, and it's great to hear him mention that they're going to be making PSP titles as well. The rest of the interview is pretty interesting also, with insight into why they picked Eat Sleep Play as the name of their company (it wouldn't get them sued) to thoughts on the reviews of Calling All Cars! and casual games in general. Check it out, it's a good read.
Jaffe has three PS3 exclusives planned
David Jaffe (or Jaffe Cakes, as we like to call him) has revealed in an interview with GamePro.com that his 20-person company has plans to develop at least three exclusive titles for the PS3. Along with developing the PS2 port of Twisted Metal: Head On Eat Sleep Play will be developing the first of these exclusives. Jaffe laments that he can't say much more, other than the first games will be "medium to hardcore in terms of game play and will focus heavily on multiplayer." Whether these games will be full Blu-Ray titles or PSN downloadables is unclear. We expect them to be a mixture of both, what with Jaffe's love of smaller, casual games. The first game will be available in early 2008.[Via N4G]
Jaffe's first indie game to be announced within 15 months
David Jaffe revealed the intentions behind the creation of Eat Sleep Play in a new interview with IGN. The plan to become independent was discussed for about a year, as Jaffe wanted to explore "spaces Sony is in, as well as in some spaces Sony is not.."Calling All Cars appears to be indicative of the direction Jaffe and Eat Sleep Play wants to go. "Sometimes the games we make will be smaller hardcore titles; other times we'll go for the casual market."Jaffe's desire to be independent from Sony doesn't indicate that he's going to make games for any other platform. Thankfully, the esteemed game director states: "We are exclusive with Sony for console and handheld. And we hope to be exclusive with Sony in those spaces for many years to come ... we love PSN and love downloadable games and would love to stay in that realm."So, when will we hear about Jaffe's first new game? Well, it looks like we'll have to wait. "My thinking is we should be ready to announce in the next 8-15 months."[Thanks, Random!]
David Jaffe's first interview regarding Eat Sleep Play
A day before David Jaffe announced his departure from Sony, GameTrailers caught the man himself, lunching amongst the population of Comic-Con. Spilling the beans and laying out the general plan, Jaffe is real excited about his new company, Eat Sleep Play, but less so about the name. Sure, Eat Sleep Play sounds like something you'd see on a free promo shirt, but the man himself has the right idea saying, "The games [will] eventually define the name versus the name defining the company." Seriously, what the heck is a Psygnosis anyway?Those defining games will be on the accessible, more arcade-style front as Jaffe points out that a game like Calling All Cars would be the smallest in terms of scope they would tackle. While Eat Sleep Play has partnered up with Sony for a multi-game deal, Jaffe describes his relationship with Kratos and the God of War franchise as "severed," though he says he'd be honored if they asked for his input on a sequel.Good luck on Monday, David.
Jaffe and Incognito chief leave Sony to start 'Eat, Sleep, Play' - announce Twisted Metal PS2 port
As promised, game developer David Jaffe has finally announced – in a move many expected – details of his new development studio located, not surprisingly, in Utah. Titled Eat, Sleep, Play, the new studio is a partnership with Incognito chief Scott Campbell who worked with Jaffe on the popular Twisted Metal series while both were at SCEA. With Ingognito's Warhawk about to take flight on PS3 and Jaffe having just finished Calling All Cars, the two are finally ready to branch out on their own ... but it's hard to get away from the mothership Sony. They've "signed on for a multi-year, multi-title deal to create titles for the PlayStation family of products, with the first slated for release in 2008."It's not clear if that includes their first project, a PlayStation 2 port of the PSP's Twisted Metal: Head On with some notable tweaks: bumped to 60 frames per second, higher-res textures, "5-7 levels from the never released Twisted Metal Black: Part II," and "a documentary on the history of the series." Jaffe surmises it may be some eight to twelve months before we hear about these new titles, but Twisted Metal: Head On will be available this holiday season. Read – One Door Closes [Jaffe's Blog]Read – SCEA Announces Exclusive Game Development Deal
Eat, Sleep, Play with Jaffe's new studio
David Jaffe and Scott Campbell are proud to announce the creation of their new studio. Jaffe, an outspoken developer, is famous for his work on the God of War series. Campbell, founder of Incognito, is receiving accolades for his latest project, Warhawk. Jaffe and Campbell have collaborated previously on the PlayStation downloadable game, Calling All Cars.Their new studio called "Eat, Sleep, Play" will be designing multiple games, exclusively for the PlayStation family of products. The first project is planned to release in 2008. In addition, the company will also be releasing Twisted Metal: Head On for the PlayStation 2, which will feature new levels not found in Black Part II, and a new documentary.Additional details aren't available yet -- but we're hoping that Jaffe and Campbell will be able to create games with just as much energy and creativity as they did when they were part of Sony's internal studios. The fact that they're still working exclusively with Sony is a huge win for us, and we can't wait to see what comes to fruition.[Update: Jaffe has updated his personal blog with some more info: "Again, we are working with Sony and that just feels great. We met with some other interested parties but at the end of the day, Sony is our home, our family, and we're really thrilled and honored they wanted to work with us and continue the relationship we've spent almost 15 years cultivating. So in many ways, it's like very little has changed, other than the pay cut."][Thanks, Glenn!]
