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God of War 2 demo soon
God of War 2 director Cory Barlog, using gentler language than tends his predecessor David Jaffe, has revealed that the game demo is nearly complete. "We are going to be breaking off the demo code pretty soon and tuning the final tuning pass on the demo level so that is pretty damn exciting. It means that those of you who emailed earlier about the demo will soon be holding your sweet copy of the God of War 2 Demo," Barlog wrote on his blog Wednesday.Barlog failed to cite an exact release date or means of distribution for the demo, which will feature a single level. By his own declaration, the entire game will be finished 60 days from now, suggesting a late-March to early-April release window for God of War 2. Our guess: demo in February. Will a version land on PlayStation 3's PlayStation Store?[Via 1UP]
David Jaffe admits drunkenly that his PSP game sucked
David Jaffe **BLEEP**ing talked to GameTrailers.com in the Playboy Mansion about developing on the PLAYSTATION 3 and PSP. He reveals that he'd love to make God of War III on the PLAYSTATION 3, if given the chance. He also makes note of the mistakes he's made. Firstly, he states that God of War's battle system is not as good as Devil May Cry's (agreed). And he also admits that his canceled PSP project, "Project HL," was really axed not because of the PS3, but because it wasn't progressing very well:"I just **BLEEP**ed up my game on the PSP, it wasn't any good! That's true! There wasn't a **BLEEP** rumor!"The full video interview is available, after the break. Obviously, if you didn't **BLEEP**ing notice, it features some profanity.[Via Joystiq]
Drunk David Jaffe desires God of War 3
At a party at the PlayBoy mansion, outspoken developer David Jaffe (Twisted Metal, God of War) gave GameTrailers one of the most entertaining interviews we've seen in awhile. Under the heavy influence of alcohol (his claim, not ours), Jaffe explains that he has started preliminary work on God of War 3 as of November 10. "We're dying to make a new one, we're dying to make one on PS3," he announces.Though Sony has not yet given Jaffe the greenlight to go ahead and work on a third iteration, he has already started figuring out how to progress the story and has started to fill up a notebook and peruse what we assume are texts on Greek Mythology. Standing to his side is Jeff Reese from Sony Marketing, who may also be as drunk as Jaffe. He chimes in to explain how he envisions God of War as a story that continues on all platforms, culminating as a "classic battle-rama on the PS3." We would love to see that descriptor on the back of the game box.Other tidbits from the interview: Jaffe, in response to EGM that his tearjerker PSP game was just a ruse while he tackled other projects, said "I just ***ed up my game on the PSP, it wasn't any good!" There are "a lot of ideas" on how to use the SIXAXIS' motion sensor controls "in every aspect of [God of War 3's] game design." Jaffe has some kind words to say about Microsoft's Xbox Live, noting that "we will always be thankful [for Xbox Live and Xbox Live Arcade]." He adds, "I'd like to think Sony is going to surpass on Xbox Live on all that they're doing, but I think there's room for all of us to play in that space" before making a Freudian slip with "Play Connected." In regards to online discussing that he has an ego problem, Jaffe admits that he is a B-level game designer ("C-level," Reese retorts). To prove his point, he negatively compares God of War's fighting system to that of Devil May Cry. Despite the frequent use of bleeps to cover up Jaffe's foul language, we're going to say this video is NSFW. For those of us with the maturity to handle such filthy language, this is a great video interview to watch. Continue reading for the embedded video.[Via Gamesblog]
David Jaffe, God of War 3, and other stuff too
Someone decided to interrupt David Jaffe, man behind classics like Twisted Metal and a little game called God of War, at the Playboy Mansion. They had the balls (pun definitely intended) to ask him about God of War 3, which is funny since the second game isn't even out yet. Expectedly, Jaffe said that he started scribbling down design notes four days ago -- no development, no decision to even create the game. All focus is still on number 2.Jaffe also takes a moment to call out EGM, who named Jaffe the "God of Bulls...tuff" because they thought his PSP game was a giant publicity rumor. Jaffe says he just fudged it up and cancelled it -- there was no rumor, it just ended up sucking. That's cool.A few more highlights before we tell you to watch the video yourself: narrative will be laced between all three games (if they decide to make it). Also, Jaffe would love to make this game on the PS3 -- he just needs the go-ahead from Sony and some cash money money. As for the SIXAXIS, he has some ideas for implementation but he doesn't go into too much detail. It's a very cool, informative, honest interview. Check it out.
Street Trace NYC devs speak
GamerTag Radio interviews some guys from Gaia Industries about their original Xbox Live Arcade title, Street Trace NYC. This game was playable at Digital LIfe, but hasn't gotten much press, despite 3D enviroments, split-screen/online multiplayer and a Michael J. Fox-friendly concept (hoverboards). You can visit the game's official site here. While they're doing their alternative media tour, maybe these hard-working indie developers should grab some toilet paper and remind Sony's snobbish Sgt. Pepper that XBLA has plenty of new IP on the way.
David Jaffe compares Xbox Live to Ashlee Simpson
David Jaffe is a fiery voice who's not afraid to speak his mind. Speaking to Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, Jaffe took some jabs at Microsoft's Xbox Live service and its penchant for retro material.While discussing Jaffe's upcoming PS3 download title Criminal Crackdown, he and Croal entered an extended metaphor comparing game format to music. It is at this point where Jaffe, under the guise that God of War is Opera in this analogy, remarked that Xbox Live is more like the pop stylings of Ashlee Simpson, or of an oldies station (hence Pac Man and XBLA's other retro titles). Criminal Crackdown, on the other hand, is closer to the Beatles. We're assuming post-Revolver era, as "I wanna hold your hand" really isn't much better than the bubblegum pop of today.While we love to see Jaffe take part in inane allegories that are usually reserved for Iwata and Kojima, we can't help but want to extend this metaphor further, throwing in some Mizuguchi and Guitar Hero -- we'll save it for the comments. As all of Jaffe's titles have been published by Sony, we're not surprised he's supportive of his financial backer and antagonized by their competitor. But invoking Ashlee Simpson? That's just cruel.Jaffe also used his interview time to discuss his feelings on God of War sequels, noting that if "it was up to me , he would have fallen off the mountain in the first game and actually died."See Also:Jaffe abandons PSP, releasing quick-turnaround PS3 title
Jaffe's Criminal Crackdown could be a hit for PS3 download service
David Jaffe and Incognito's secret PlayStation 3 project has been revealed as Criminal Crackdown, a downloadable action/party game running at 60 fps in 1080p. With big names on board and "the right" numbers, could this be the first in a series of Xbox Live Arcade killers?Jaffe has suggested that Criminal Crackdown will lead a wave of "shorter, less expensive" titles (developed in under a year, and presumably distributed digitally) created by established development studios -- the future of the industry, he supposes. But is a throwback arcade romp (with just four levels) what the PS3 was built for?See also:Sony's Geometry Wars (and other e-Distributed titles) leaked
Details on David Jaffe's "casual" game
God of War's David Jaffe had dropped hints on his blog a long time ago about not wanting to make just epic titles, expressing also his desire to make more casual games. What he meant, nobody knew. Initially, he had a game titled HL in work for the PSP, but it got shelved for now. Jaffe expertly drops a few hints on the new casual title he's working on: "It's totally NOT a game like HL was going to be, or God of War for that matter. It has stuff in common with Twisted Metal, Bomberman, and...well, a few other things that I ain't gonna talk about yet!" So... it's like a destructive party game?The game wasn't at TGS, but it's supposed to be floating around the "air waves" in the next couple of months. Let's piece this together. It's a smaller, casual title. It's like Bomberman and Twisted Metal meets "other things". It'll be floating around the "air waves" this holiday season. Jaffe is a Sony employee. The game runs in 1080i. Can you say: launch title for Sony's e-distribution? Let's hope so, since we've seen very little on the online experience from Sony.
Jaffe abandons PSP, releasing quick-turnaround PS3 title
David Jaffe didn't have to make a game to "make you cry," he just had to cancel it. After boisterous claims that he was working on a game that would bring tears to our eyes, Jaffe blogs -- yep, back from his hiatus -- that this mysterious Project HL is now "on the shelf." For you optimists, the foul-mouthed designer adds, "fuck it. We'll do HL later ... maybe."As it turns out, Jaffe has focused his spastic energy on an unannounced PlayStation 3 project, which apparently shares characteristics with Twisted Metal and Bomberman and, well, Jaffe's not ready to say much else ... Interestingly, the game has only been in development for 6–7 months, but being on the verge of goin' Alpha, Jaffe expects the final version to hit retail between November and January. A surprise launch title? Perhaps.In typical Jaffe fashion, the post explodes, in ALL CAPS, into an excited ramble, envisioning the future of games as "SHORTER, LESS EXPENSIVE" projects, akin to the churn'em-out-style of old Warner Bros. cartoons. "...just knocking them out," blogs Jaffe, "and some are -- worst case -- just average, while some are amazing ... but it adds up to a hell of a batting average over time and lots of fun games." You have our attention. Now please deliver.[Via PSP Fanboy]
David Jaffe no longer wants to make you cry
David Jaffe, prominent game designer behind the smash God of War, was supposed to bring PSP owners a mysterious "Project HL." This maybe-episodic game was going to make you cry...Well, no more! The game's not coming out. No more PSP game. Boo!!!!! Like the Gran Turismo team, he now seems more interested in that shiny $600 box called the "PlayStation 3." Crazy.[Via 1UP]
Will Wright is a pr0n star, blogs lowly game designer
Derek Daniels, a low-ranking designer on the God of War team, recently broke the industry down like this:"In the videogame design world you have Miyamoto, Kojima, Will Wright, David Jaffe, and a handful of others that have risen to the top that have a little more control of their future. Then you have the other faceless designers that no one knows working on games doing some downright nasty things that I'm sure their mothers do not want to hear."Sounds like the porn industry, right? Well, that's Daniels' point at least. He reckons that videogame design is a young man's gamble, with a lifespan about as long as a girl doing porn. And when you finally burn out and leave the game behind, you're left with "a skillset that cannot be applied to anything else in life." [Thanks, Art]
David Jaffe despises action/adventure, Kratos cries
God of War director David Jaffe recently posted on his blog and 1up.com covered the important points for us. An interesting pair of quotes are where Jaffe says "I find myself enjoying single player action adventure games more than I have since I was a kid," but also says that after designing an action/adventure game with an epic story he has "lost interest in the genre of single player action/adventure games." He likes playin' 'em, but doesn't like makin' 'em. He doesn't want to tell stories with his games anymore?Jaffe believes, apparently, that most games today don't really feed on the raw emotions that a game could, and should, evoke from the player. What, then, will Project HL be? If he doesn't want to make a story, what could it be? A very hard, annoying puzzle game that makes us cry because it's so ridiculous? What about God of War 2, or God of War 3? Will the story taper off and the third try to evoke raw emotions from us with nothing other than blood and mayhem? This may worry some, but as 1up.com concluded, it does appear he is suffering from burnout due to rough development schedules. Buck up, Jaffe! We believe in you.
MTV hosts game designers roundtable
MTV News' Stephen Totilo somehow managed the Herculean task of getting four major game designers -- Harvey Smith (aka Witchboy; Deus Ex), Will Wright (The Sims), David Jaffe (God of War), and Cliff Bleszinski (aka CliffyB; Gears of War) -- to sit down and talk to each other ... during the week of E3. The roundtable took place at Gallery Nineteen Eighty Eight amidst the backdrop of their currently running I AM 8-BIT art show. Though it begins with more input from host Gideon Yago, it quickly evolves into a conversation between the four designers, running the gaming gamut from design to violence in games to the art question, all with a healthy sprinkling of (the outspoken) David Jaffe's trademark pottymouth.While MTV only ran an edited version, MTV's online-only Overdrive channel is hosting the whole shebang. It's unfortunate that MTV decided this didn't deserve to be aired on television even though they've managed to make room for another half-dozen airings of the Gears of War promotional special. But seriously, if MTV's doing this, what does G4 do nowadays?[Warning: Ever attuned to the pulse of the younger generation, MTV had the foresight to recognize that nobody under the age of 34 uses Mac OS and, accordingly, they've made their Overdrive site only compatible with Internet Explorer running on Windows.]
Hands-on with God of War II
IGN got an early hands-on preview of God of War II, and they're lovin' what Sony's Santa Monica studio has come up with so far.Without revealing too much of the sequel's plot, our hairless hero now sports some new magical attacks and context-sensitive finishing moves. Needless to say, prominent Greek mythological figures will also be showing up to keep Kratos company, and there will certainly be a lot of flashy slashing-first-ask-questions-later kind of action to fill the hours.For more spoilers on "an early section of the sequel," simply follow the image link above or Read link below, where you can find a few more details on the new power-up system and annoying enemy combatants (otherwise known as smarter fodder for your sharper blades). A practical explanation goes into the reasons for keeping things on the PS2 rather than the PS3, and hopefully less frustrating puzzles are revealed as well. More will likely be revealed at Sony's big E3 press conference today.See also: New God of War 2 director speaks God of War's Jaffe inspired by Britney vs. Christina God of War 2 GDC video leaked online
New God of War 2 director speaks
With David Jaffe assuming creative director duties on God of War 2, Cory Barlog has taken over the director's chair for the anticipated sequel to last year's game of the year. Barlog gave 1UP a glimpse of what's to come at E3, when more details will be revealed about Kratos' next adventure.Barlog says the first priority is maintaining the balance between action and adventure elements that worked so well in the first game. He also suggests there was a "late start" on the mythology aspect during the creation of God of War, and they plan on spending more time in that department to give fans a wider variety of mythical enemies to vanquish. There are 26 new screens after the interview.Stay tuned for God of War 2 updates during our E3 coverage.
God of War's Jaffe inspired by Britney vs. Christina
Sure you knew that God of War was inspired by Clash of the Titans and Raiders of the Lost Ark, but did you know that Christina Aguilera influenced its development as well?In an interview conducted by Lorne Lanning for a session at GDC last week, David Jaffe revealed that thinking of (the workplace tension between him and) his lead programmer during a Christina Aguilera song about Britney Spears helped him get the game to work.So identifying with the arguably lesser end of the Christina-Britney rivalry helped Kratos make it out of development hell? Sounds like a surefire way to create a hit game! We also take it then that the song in question wasn't "Genie in a Bottle," 'cause that would've made for one interesting unlockable costume for our marked man. Cameo in the sequel, perhaps?[Britney 'n' Christina pic found via an old BBC MTV VMA story found here]See also: David Jaffe, blogger extraordinaire, WRU?!? God of War 2 GDC video leaked online Budget power from the Gods, under the hood
