Michael-Denny
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Gran Turismo 6 'on PS3 this year,' Sony exec says
We knew Polyphony has been working on Gran Turismo 6 since 2011 at least, meaning we had our hearts set on playing it shortly after the launch of the PS5. Turns out we may get the game a little earlier, as in this year on the PS3.This is according to Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Senior Vice President Michael Denny, speaking with Silicon Republic (audio here): "Look at the games coming out on PlayStation 3 this year, like The Last of Us, like Beyond, GT6...."Sony confirms that GT6 is in development and has been since 2010, but offers no additional comment about a release this year. [Pictured: GT5]
Sony axing Liverpool game studio, ends Psygnosis' 28-year history
Sony has confirmed that it's shuttering Studio Liverpool, more famously known as Psygnosis. The publisher was founded in 1984 and is responsible for a legion of best-selling titles including Lemmings, Colony Wars, Destruction Derby, Wipeout and the Formula One games. In a statement, the company said that after a review of its "commercially viable" projects, it's focusing on projects in other parts of the business -- after slashing the studio's remit in a cost-cutting exercise in 2010. The facility is also the location of the company's European Quality Assurance team, which will reportedly remain in operation.
Sony bringing 12 first party Vita launch titles to Europe, including Uncharted and Wipeout
Sony kinda has a thing for Europe, as evidenced by today's PlayStation Vita event in London. SCEE worldwide studios SVP Michael Denny took to the stage to reveal the February 22, 2012 first party launch lineup for the PlayStation Vita, which includes titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Wipeout 2048. The list of 12 games adds to the two from Namco we already expected by February 22 -- namely Ridge Racer and Touch My Katamari -- and reveals a cadre of "in development" titles, even outing a couple we'd yet to hear about. Presumably the EU's first party launch lineup isn't far off from North America's, but we'll assuredly find out more definitively in the near future.
Execs from the big three weigh in on the current console cycle
In the five-ish years since the Xbox 360 launched, ushering in the current console generation, we've heard a whole mess of talk about this console life cycle pushing past the usual five-ish years they tend to span. Given that we're approaching the mark as we speak, MCV talked to execs from the big three and got an update on where each stands in terms of new hardware in the coming year(s). "The benefit of hardware remaining relevant for longer is the fact that it gives more developers a chance to get the very best and most out of current generation systems, rather than the cycle changing just as people have become used to maximizing a console's performance and abilities," says senior product manager at Nintendo UK Rob Lowe. "We strongly believe that there is still huge potential for both Wii and DS to continue to bring in new gamers and change rejecters' perceptions." Watch your back, rejecters! Perhaps unsurprisingly at this point, Sony and Microsoft corroborate Lowe's claims, with VP of Sony Worldwide Studios Michael Denny adding, "Of course new hardware causes a large spike in consumer interest, but so does the launch of new, exciting games ... Modern Warfare 2 didn't need new hardware to break all the records." And with two new motion ... things coming to Sony and Microsoft's consoles -- not to mention the worldwide economy still struggling to recover from a near-meltdown -- we have to imagine that we won't be seeing any new $400 to $600 hardware anytime soon. But hey, there's always 3D to take our money, right?
Everyone agrees: new IP needed for industry 'to survive'
What do Sony's Michael Denny, Square Enix's Yoichi Wada, and Codemasters' Rod Cousens have in common? Okay, they're all middle-aged men that happen to work in the video games industry -- but they also share a common belief in pursuing original IP. "For me the answer is clear, simply, we must support new IP creation to survive as an industry. Consumers crave new things. If we want to stay relevant in an increasingly competitive marketplace, we have to continue to produce new experiences," Denny told GI.biz. Certainly, SCEE has been pushing a lot of new IPs this generation, with Denny overseeing games like Heavy Rain and EyePet. Wada agrees with Denny's sentiment, noting that "as an entertainment company the business won't be viable if we don't continue to nurture new IPs." This may be ironic coming from a company that's releasing a game called Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers this holiday, and both Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XIV next year, but we can credit them for making The World Ends With You, right? Cousens goes a step further, saying innovation has always been at the heart of the industry. "From day one since we walked in the door we've always tried to be experimental, to be innovative, to take things into new areas and to make it interesting." Obviously, the reason why publishers need to invest in new IPs is clear -- let's not forget that games like Madden used to be an original IP at one point. Source - Sony: Industry needs new IP to survive Source - Wada: Business 'not viable' without new IP Source - Cousens: Industry must pursue new IP
Sony hopes Heavy Rain will appeal to casual audiences, too
In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, the senior vice president of Sony's Worldwide Studios Europe Michael Denny disclosed his desire to see Heavy Rain "appeal to the core [audience] and then the consequence-based gameplay can appeal to a newer audience, a more casual audience as well." The exec then goes on to explain how Quantic Dream's PS3 exclusive will do just that. "It's trying to do something very new, whether you call that the adventure genre, action adventure, we're calling it interactive drama ... It's really not played on the control pad, as much as in your head. It's about making choices and consequences, it's not about twitch gaming and how good you are." Is Denny correct? Do you think a plot-heavy, mature title like Heavy Rain can appeal to the same audience who plays Buzz! and Singstar? Fire away in the comments below.
Sony says 'we're leading in user-generated content'
At least Sony has one thing to smile about this morning. According to Sony's Michael Denny who spoke with Gamesindustry.biz, Sony is leading the charge in user-generated content for home consoles. Denny backs the claim by counting successes for LittleBigPlanet, Buzz! and SingStar. "... SingStar is now an online community of over 300,000 users. With Buzz as well ... there's over 100,000 user-generated quizzes that have had over seven million plays." Denny also noted that LittleBigPlanet has almost 180,000 community created levels having been played for a combined total over 22.4 million times. Denny admits that a strong community backbone in previous hardware generations eased the move to the PS3 for some of these key Sony games -- speaking specifically about Buzz! and SingStar. While LittleBigPlanet hasn't performed in terms of sales as many, including us, would have predicted, it looks like the community response to the original IP has shown a tremendously healthy sign of interest.
Sony Worldwide Studios welcomes Michael Denny, Scott Rohde
Since we love keeping up with all the body-moving inside Sony, we thought we'd alert you to a couple of new faces that'll be helping to make decisions regarding the company's future. Aside from the promotion of Shuhei Yoshida as the new Sony Worldwide Studios head, Sony's Worldwide Studios Europe (apparently one worldwide studio isn't worldwide enough) sees the promotion of Michael Denny (pictured) as new VP. Sony San Diego Studios senior director Scott Rohde also got a promotion to VP of Worldwide Studios America (every country is their own world?). All jokes aside, we'd like to take this opportunity to welcome Denny and Rohde into their new positions and we hope to hear good things from them soon!
Sony announces new studio heads for Europe, America
Sony continues to shuffle the upper-level management of their international studios. Gamasutra reports that the company has appointed Michael Denny (pictured) as the new senior vice president of Sony Worldwide Studios Europe, moving him from his former position as Sony Computer Entertainment Europe VP.Sony has also promoted Scott Rohde, former Sony San Diego Studios senior director, to the position of vice president of Worldwide Studios America. Both Rohde and Denny will manage the internal studios for their regions.These promotions follow last month's appointment of Shuhei Yoshida as president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide, replacing Phil Harrison. GamesIndustry.biz has posted the first part of an interview with Yoshida, detailing the difficult task of filling Phil's shoes.
Next Wipeout to feature more downloadable content
Who doesn't like free stuff? Sony's getting the big picture: we like free content downloads. As reported by develop, SCE Worldwide Studios VP Michael Denny states, "All games, whether they are launched on disc or electronically, need to create a community and have active community websites and extra content." One of PSP's launch titles, Wipeout Pure, featured tons of downloadable content after release. In fact, the various packs released over the months following release doubled the amount of content available in the game. It was free for the consumer, and undoubtedly boosted sales. "Downloadable content helped keep the game on the shelf and encouraged people to not trade the game in," explains development director Clemens Wangerin. The game also delivered more than 800,000 downloads and became the first PSP title to reach Platinum status. While speaking about Wipeout, it looks like Sony accidentally revealed that sequels were being made for both the PSP and PS3 platforms. If you haven't figured it out, the next iterations of Wipeout will also deliver even more downloadable content. Hopefully, it will still retain the nice price that Pure set: free. [Via Joystiq] See also: Killzone Liberation online beta coming soon
