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Codemasters snaps up 'Driveclub' developer Evolution Studios
It was a sad day when Sony decided to drop Evolution Studios from its pantheon of first-party video game developers. Following the announcement, it was unclear what would become of the company best known for creating Driveclub and the MotorStorm franchise. Well, now we have an answer. Codemasters, another racing specialist in the UK, will be picking up the company on April 25th. It'll create something of an independent super-studio, with Mick Hocking, co-founder of Evolution, taking on the role of VP Product Development at Codemasters.
Sony closes 'Driveclub' creator Evolution Studios
You likely saw this coming, but it's still sad to say: Sony has confirmed that it's closing Evolution Studios, the developer behind both the MotorStorm series and the troubled Driveclub. The tech giant isn't saying exactly what prompted the closure (we've published its full statement below). However, it tells us that the shutdown followed reviews of "short and medium term" plans, and that it's devoting attention to studios that will be in a "stronger position going forward." In essence, it didn't see Evolution's work leading to a bona fide hit in the near future.
'Driveclub' spices up its racing with superbikes
Like Driveclub's arcade racing, but miss the two-wheeled adventures of Evolution Studios' earlier MotorStorm? You might just get the best of both worlds. Evolution has taken the wraps off of Driveclub Bikes, a standalone game (also available as an add-on) that brings superbikes into the fray. The core mechanics will be familiar if you're a veteran of the PlayStation 4 racer, of course, but the switch to motorcycles can't help but alter the experience. Is Bikes going to change your mind on Driveclub if you were soured on it at first? Probably not, but you can download it today -- it might be worth a look if you want to know whether or not the franchise has turned a corner.
'Driveclub' finally reaches PlayStation Plus on June 25th
Remember how Sony promised you a free version of Driveclub with your PlayStation Plus subscription about, oh, two years ago? You'll finally get to claim it this week. The Plus Edition of Evolution Studios' PS4 racing game is launching on June 25th, giving you a chance to see what all the hype was about. Sony is taking care to avoid the server meltdowns that plagued the retail game's debut, too. On day one, you'll only have guaranteed access to offline play -- internet races will gradually roll out to make sure that this socially-oriented title works as advertised.
PlayStation is recruiting for a VR-exclusive studio in the UK
It's getting real for Sony's Project Morpheus. The electronics giant has posted job listings (eight, all told) for veteran animators, level designers and a few others to fill out a studio dedicated entirely to making virtual reality games. "Based in the North West of England, we aim to build a small but highly experienced team who want to build great games to showcase this exciting new immersive technology," the postings say. As Eurogamer reports, the Morpheus-exclusive studio should wind up in Manchester, and staff that formerly worked at Driveclub's Evolution Studios are involved here. Perhaps that's why the available positions are somewhat limited in number. Regardless, if you were questioning how serious Sony's push into VR was, this might sate your curiosity a bit.
Better late than never, Driveclub reaches the PlayStation 4 on October 7th
Evolution Studios may have missed its chance to make Driveclub a PlayStation 4 launch title (and a technology showcase) by quite a wide margin, but it at last has some firm release dates. The socially-savvy racing game should reach North America on October 7th, while Europeans will get it a day later. As Sony previously explained, the nearly year-long delay comes after Evolution went "back to the drawing board" to rework large parts of the game, taking on a new project leader in the process. Patience may prove to be a virtue in that case, although we don't envy Driveclub's odds of success when it's launching on a very, very busy day. The title now has to vie for attention with potential blockbusters like Alien: Isolation, Dragon Age: Inquisition and Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- there's no certainty that gamers will have the cash to spare.
Sony wins Grand Prix prize for publishing awesomeness
At the Develop Industry Excellence Awards, the European segment of Sony walked away with the most prestigious award available at said ceremony. When given the award, the statement given for Sony's excellence was described as follows: "capping 12 months which have seen the firm deliver a new hardware format that has inspired developers around the world to make cutting-edge next generation games." That's right -- the PlayStation 3 is getting the clout for developers worldwide making fantastic new titles.Other Sony products receiving awards were SCEE/Evolution Studios for best new IP with Motorstorm, and Zoe Mode got the same nod for their PSP game Crush. There were other awards for many other titles, but as far as Sony goes, this is about the extent of their excellence. We give them similar props because, well, we're sure next year they'll get an award for LittleBigPlanet. It's inevitable. Anyone care to make a wager?
Evolution Studios talks about the PS3 and... stuff
MotorStorm has been released. It's good. Evolution Studios made it. They're good. Now that we have the backstory out of the way, let's get down and dirty with the CEO of Evolution Studios, Martin Kenwright, and talk about how people should approach the PS3 and the future of gaming, including downloadable content.How should people approach development of games on the PS3? "I think you've got to think big now, or go home. We're in an industry full of hits, and an average product isn't good enough. You have to find an edge and I think when you look at the billions being invested in hardware, at the end of the day it's only as good as the games that being developed on that platform...You do need this scale and scope to stay at the top tier of games development." More development coming? Downloadable content? "We hope to show, not tell, and this is a curtain-raiser. I know that there's some amazing things we can do, and I don't want to go off and promise a load of stuff that we can't deliver, but what we can say in terms of graphics and processing power [is that] we are only hitting a fraction of what we could be doing. Our motto is, "If anyone can, Evo can," and we want to push the hardware." "We looked at [downloadable content] and we said that we wanted to do something fresh and exciting, underpromise and overdeliver if you will. We want to set a precedent for DLC basically. We already have 12 cars running together without any latency or slowdown, and that's a remarkable achievement beyond anything else that exists on any format. I think the experience will be great and we hope to bring you as much new content and game modes as possible." There's a lot more discussed, but it's mostly industry babble and mostly reiteration of stuff we already know. What would you guys like to see in some downloadable content for MotorStorm?
MotorStorm won't be riding dirty in US 'til March
After a less than stellar (and briefly delayed) Japanese debut, the blokes at Evolution Studios went back to the old drafting table (a drafting table full of game development hardware we imagine), to do "some additional fine tuning and [get] the online features squared away" for MotorStorm, their down-and-dirty racing title for the PlayStation 3. This extra functionality doesn't come cheap though ... current going rate is about one month's time tacked onto your game's release date. Originally scheduled to be released in February, MotorStorm won't be riding dirty in the States until March, though a specific date hasn't been given. Considering the harsh response to the Japanese release's lack of online multiplayer, this is time well spent![Thanks, Jonah]
MotorStorm 720p, 30fps (not True HD)
The 'True HD' concept is certainly off to a rocky start on Sony's console that could. Despite confirmation from SCEA senior VP of marketing Peter Dille that MotorStorm would rocket to the US at 60fps in glorious 1080p, Sony today rescinded that remark. MotorStorm, alas, will be presented in lowly 720p, chugging along at 30fps.Seriously though, those numbers will keep MotorStorm competitive -- and in HD. We just couldn't miss out on an opportunity to muffle the True HD buzz.[Thanks, Jonah]
MotorStorm rushed to Japan (and it shows)
An IGN staffer calls the Japanese version of MotorStorm "the most featureless racer I've ever played." The hurried release lacks both online and offline multiplayer, time attack and free run modes, and basic settings for number of racers and lap count. But trim doesn't equal fast, as load times stretch to the 45-second mark; even vehicle selection is bogged down by model load-ins (and you'll have to break out the manual for vehicle stat comparisons).Still, IGN holds out hope for the "real" version of MotorStorm (expected to launch in March), anticipating "one of the finest racing experiences ever." How a racer can be both utterly featureless and "the most technically impressive game I've ever played" is a bit of an enigma to us, but IGN has certainly been impressed by MotorStorm's potential. PlayStation 3's first must-have? Not yet.
MotorStorm tops Japanese sale charts
To be brief, MotorStorm has become the top-selling PS3 game so far in Japan, shooting up to #1 on Japanese sales charts. Not saying too much, since there are a multitude of games sitting on the shelves but a severe lack of systems to play them on. Even so, by December 10th, MotorStorm sold 8,000 copies and has probably passed the 10,000 mark by now. If the game has done so well in Japan, where off-road racing (actual off-roading) and western-developed titles don't really do well by themselves, then how will the rest of the world react? Good question, but we all know the answer. This is going to be a fun game and many people will grab it. Argue about graphics, the SIXAXIS, or whatever, but the truth is, this is a great showcase title for the PS3. Especially for the European debut! This should be good news for all of us, so let's pop out that bottle of New Year's champagne early, eh? No noisemakers, please. Those suck.
MotorStorm stalled
Sony has pushed back MotorStorm's Japanese release another week, vaguely citing production-related issues as the reason for delay. MotorStorm will now launch alongside Armored Core 4 on December 14.Just a reminder: Westerners won't be ridin' dirty until next March. As a consolation, Evolution will include an online mode for the 2007 release of MotorStorm. So why rush an incomplete Japanese version off to retail?
