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Haze 360 removed from Ubisoft release list
Hey, remember back when Haze was a timed exclusive for the Playstation 3? Remember that other time when Ubisoft revealed its release schedule for Holiday 07 and Haze 360 was dated only a week after the PS3 version? We hope you do remember, because it looks like Ubisoft is trying to rewrite history. The release list, revealed only yesterday, has since been revised, removing the 360 and PC versions of Haze altogether. Joystiq points out, and so must we, that this series of events has an eerie symmetry to the initial mystery surrounding the 360 version of Assassin's Creed. Again, Ubisoft refuses to directly answer questions regarding PS3 exclusivity, saying only that the PS3 is "the only confirmed platform."Will history repeat itself? Is Haze destined to appear as though it were a PS3 exclusive title? Perhaps more interesting, assuming that the game is coming to 360, is maintaining the illusion of exclusivity really important?
Ubisoft yanks Haze 360, PC from release list
Didn't we play this game already? After unleashing yesterday's avalanche of release dates and promptly crushing the month of November in the process, Ubisoft has removed any date and mention of the PC and Xbox 360 versions of Haze from the list. Speaking to an Ubisoft UK representative, Joystiq was told that the mysterious disappearance could be attributed to the PlayStation 3 being "the only confirmed platform for Haze." Oh dear, it's Assassin's Creed all over again.Just last month, Ubisoft described the politically charged shooter as "leading on PS3," noting that "no exclusivity for any platform has been officially announced." Despite Free Radical's director, Steve Ellis, stating that the developer's chief challenge was "designing a solution that will work well across the platforms," Haze was theorized to be at the very least, a timed PS3 exclusive. The week-long release gap between the PS3's Haze and other versions shown on Ubisoft's initial schedule rendered such a conclusion comical, but not untruthful. What of the vanishing Xbox 360 and PC versions then?When we asked directly whether Haze was a PS3 exclusive or not, Ubisoft simply reiterated that the system was "the only confirmed platform." It's the same line we kept hearing when Ubisoft was dodging questions about the exclusivity haze surrounding Assassin's Creed -- a game which started out on "PlayStation 3 and at this time, no other platform has been confirmed." Ubisoft later admitted a PC version would "indeed see the light some day" (the same day, actually) and then finally confirmed an Xbox 360 version to an unsurprised audience. Can we expect the same sequence of events for Haze, or are negotiations between suits still active? We expect to get some answers (simple "yes" or "no" ones, preferably) at next month's Min-E3.
Haze Developer Diary episode one shows us some new footage
We love Haze. The look, the style, the potential, the jump-in-anywhere co-op. Yes, even the bright yellow uniforms. Haze is our upcoming First Person Shooter of choice for 2007. With this in mind, it's wonderful for us to be able to keep an eye on the development of the game through Free Radical's new developer diary.You can see the first episode above, or download the HD version from the official Haze website. In the video co-founder of Free Radical, David Doak, gives us some insight into the game. If you've been following the various interviews and bites of info that have been flowing out of Free Radical over the last couple of months, then you'll know most of it already. What makes it interesting, this time, is that as Doak discusses each aspect of the game in turn, it is accompanied by some in-game footage as an example. Some of which hasn't been released before.There's no word on how frequent these diaries are going to be, but the assumption is that there will be at least another couple before the game releases. Speaking of the release, Doak reconfirms the game will be on shelves this year, just in case you harbour worries that Free Radical had caught the highly contagious delay-lurgy.
PS3 nabs Haze, likely a timed exclusive
It looks like the Playstation 3 will be getting some exclusive love from the upcoming shooter from Free Radical, Haze. The game will debut this fall on the Playstation 3, while it seems that mention of the Xbox 360 and PC versions has dropped from the game's official fact sheet. When probed about exclusivity by GameSpot, a representative from Ubisoft said, "Haze is leading on PS3, but no exclusivity for any platform has been officially announced." In all likelihood, this pegs Haze as a timed exclusive, which means PC and 360 players may be waiting until 2008 to experience the mature shooter.Sorry fanboys, if you were looking forward to playing as a genetically enhanced super soldier in 2007, you'll have to look elsewhere.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Haze will have four-player co-op campaign
Although Ubisoft's Haze was always expected to have four-player co-op campaign, apparently it wasn't confirmed until today. Free Radical (Time Splitters) studio head David Doak confirmed at the Ubidays conference in Paris that the game will allow for the co-op campaign both online and off. Now that we're starting to see this four-player co-op concept take flight in games like Haze and Too Human, is there a chance it'll show up in Halo 3?Doak also rehashed some of the information from earlier that Haze is "not just about war itself, it's about your perception of war". They're really pushing this mature "make you think" angle of the game. Listen, we'll be more than happy to debate the merits of war with our friends online as long as the four-player co-op runs smoothly and gives us a truly great squad game in campaign mode.
Hazed and confused: Haze writer disses Halo
If you want to grab some attention for your game (or just in general) one of the easiest things to do is publicly mock something that's successful. In the case of videogames, a sure way to get your game noticed is to mock Halo. Speaking to Edge, Rob Yescombe, scriptwriter for Free Radical's upcoming shooter Haze, has some choice words about the king of console shooters. According to Yescombe, new-gen games are about more mature, compelling content: "Halo is brilliant, you're a teenager - the next-gen is about becoming more mature ... in Haze you become an adult." Yescombe adds that games should take a page from world events as inspiration, saying, "It's about what's happening in the world today - it's ludicrous, and how can you make something that doesn't reflect that? Well, you could bury your head in the sand and make Halo 3, but the fact of the matter is there are more important things at stake." Haze, it seems, is a satirical work aimed at modern warfare, though Yescombe admits that some may not see the satire.Naturally, we here at X3F are card-carrying Halo 3 fanboys, so Yescombe's comments sting a little. However, regardless of Haze's merits, for Yescombe to imply that Bungie is socially irresponsible for creating Halo is asinine. Escapist fiction has always been a part of human culture and is just as important as any piece of satire or non-fiction. We need our action movies just as much as we need our documentaries. We need Stephen King just as much as we need Johnathan Swift. Without some escape from the world's problems, we'd all be nothing but bubbling piles of depression. To quote Sergeant Johnson, "People need heroes, Chief. To give 'em hope."[Via Joystiq]
In a 'Haze' of modern issues
In a small, barely ventilated, room of E3 last year Ubisoft showed off the very promising game Haze. A first-person shooter that obviously, even at that time, had something to say about the politics of war -- without politics getting in the way of gunplay. Well, Haze scriptwriter Rob Yescombe says that while Halo is great, it's not the most mature subject matter and he wants Haze to up the ante in meaning. Yescombe tells Edge magazine he believes developer Free Radical is using Haze to do that, he says, "It's about what's happening in the world today -- it's ludicrous, and how can you make something that doesn't reflect that? Well, you could bury your head in the sand and make Halo 3, but the fact of the matter is there are more important things at stake."Yescombe does say that their job is still to "entertain." Haze, although being an incredibly short demonstration, did stand out from the crowd at last year's E3. At the time it felt like a mix of FarCry, Ghost Recon (at the time they said it would allow for four-man simultaneous campaign) and a dose of Deus Ex morality. This is definitely one title we're looking forward to seeing more of, especially if the story enhances what was already some sweet looking gameplay.
Welcome back Haze, it's time to go viral
The last time we heard any information about Free Radical's shooter Haze we were a year younger and E3 was in full swing. But now it looks like the Haze team has finally made some progress, because a new Haze inspired viral website has emerged. The Mantel corporation's (the company the main character works for) corporate website launched the other day with virally fake company policies, financial details, and mission statement. All of course set in the not to distant future which is when Haze takes place. The website also has restricted access to a few sections, which will probably be unlocked nearer to a Haze release, but doesn't showcase any new Haze media or information yet. And since the viral marketing has begun, when do you think Haze will hit the streets? This Summer, this Fall, or next year sometime? Heck, all we know is that "Mantel is there, making a difference".[Via IGN]
Free Radical interview is both free and radical
Edge has an interview up with Free Radical co-founder Karl Hilton (no relation, we hope) where he discusses enemy AI, game design, and what it's like developing games in the marketplace right now. Particularly eye-opening is the fact that when they developed GoldenEye, their team was about as dozen people. These days, they consist of about 100 people, which is quite a step up in manpower. The most interesting quote comes when he's asked about the full time scriptwriter they have working there. Hilton says, "The success of the Wii has showed how unimportant writing is to a huge chunk of the games market – and that market sector is growing." We'd have to disagree with that. Sure, you don't need a huge screenplay to make Wario Ware: Smooth Moves fun ... but those explanation screens that show you how to do each new move with the controller are extremely well written and funny. Now, if they could just hire Tom Stoppard to rewrite Cooking Mama. They don't drop any new info about Star Wars Battlefront III, but he does talk about HAZE a bit, and it's worth checking out. They also just celebrated their 8th birthday on Friday, which practically makes them wise adults in the game development world.
Star Wars Battlefront III60 exclusive?
According to GamesRadar, the March issue of UK Magazine Playstation World spilled some beans on Star Wars: Battlefront III. On page 65, they state that LucasArts is moving the series from Pandemic, who developed the first two in the series, to Free Radical, of TimeSplitters and GoldenEye fame. They go on to say that SWBIII is listed as an Xbox 360 exclusive, but don't think it will stick. Still, Free Radical has a history of making some badass multiplayer games, and hopefully it will translate well in Star Wars: Battlefront III's online skirmishes. Are you looking forward to the new gen iteration of the series? What are your thoughts on the potential exclusivity and Free Radical taking the helm?Oh, and in case you hadn't noticed, that box art is fan made, and not official.[Via GameStooge]
Not-so-secret projects probed
FiringSquad has done its best to out 18 high-profile "black ops" projects currently in development. While the site's sleuthing skills might not be up to par with Mr. Holmes', the report does a good job of rounding up under-the-radar titles that are begging for some attention.We'd like to direct the spotlight on two studios in particular: Tim Schafer's DoubleFine and Bungie expats Wideload, which are responsible for Psychonauts and Stubbs the Zombie, respectively (both titles landed in our top 10 'gems' of last generation). The two developers are hard at work on new projects; and with DoubleFine striking a publishing deal with Vivendi, its next game is sure to stir up more buzz (when it's time) than Majesco managed to generate for Psychonauts. Also, we can't wait to see what Warren Spector and Junction Point have under lock and key. Keep those ears (and eyes) glued to the street!
Haze wanders past March 2007 release date, may return by 2008
A recent financial statement released by Ubisoft brings news that is unlikely to surprise anyone, with the exception of the man who just realized that Bruce Willis is like, totally a ghost. Free Radical's jungle-bound first-person shooter, Haze, will miss its projected March release date, instead arriving sometime in Ubisoft's next financial year, which concludes in March 2008. CVG reports that the time-cleaving developer should still complete the title before the end of the non-financial version of 2007, but we'd rather not place any wagers on it.
LucasArts joining forces with Free Radical
LucasArts, longtime custodians of secrets pertaining to primate islands, have announced their intention to work with the timesplitting folks at Free Radical on a brand new game. Slated for next-generation consoles, the as yet undisclosed title will benefit from the combined efforts of two experienced studios. Peter Hirschmann of LucasArts labels the agreement as a good idea, since Free Radical "has always been about titles with great gameplay and innovative design." [Opposites attract quip here.] With Raven Software spending most of their time reading comic books these days, it might not seem outlandish to suggest that the mystery game here could be a new entry in the Jedi Knight franchise -- to be more precise, Dark Forces 5: Jedi Knight 4: Jedi Outcast 3: Jedi Academy 2: Jedi Colon. Then again, it could be an entirely new IP. Just as well, since the only other idea we can muster is a first-person shooter starring a despondent Bobbin "Are you my mother?" Threadbare.
