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New Xbox Live Indie Game explores Office Politics [update]
We know that Rat Race probably put you off comedic video game projects based in working environments -- however, the recently released Xbox Live Indie Game, Office DisOrders, looks a little more sophisticated than Super-Ego Studios' impossibly unfunny work simulator. Well, the graphics aren't more sophisticated, we guess; but they've got this Dire Straights' "Money For Nothing" thing that's really working for us. Check out the trailer above to see the blockheaded drama unfold. The game itself is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace for 80 ($1). Update: The game's creator recently emailed us with surprising news about the game. Apparently, due to a trademark conflict, the game was pulled off the Marketplace, and renamed Office DisOrders. It should now be available under the new moniker.
The running of the Ratonga
Well, okay, it's not called that, but it's going to look awfully similar. EverQuest II is calling for players to create a brand new, level 1 Ratonga character for the Rat Race, a scavenger hunt of sorts being run on 21 different servers. The race will begin in Hate's Envy on all servers, where the horde of new Ratonga will be given a list of items to gather as they race through Norrath. The fastest finishers will win special in-game prizes, but there are also gifts for everyone who participates. Kiara and Amnerys from the SOE Community Relations team will be your hosts for this event, so it's sure to be lots of fun. This is an ongoing event, with the first race set for next Tuesday, the 13th, and races scheduled nearly every day until November 6th. Check the list on the official site for starting dates and times for each server, and good luck in the Rat Race!
Rat Race may be crawling back from the dead
Remember Rat Race? Sony had revealed this episodic downloadable comedy game over a year ago -- only to quietly can it at E3 earlier last year. However, a report on True Game Headz suggests the project may be getting a second chance at life.According to the report, developer Super-Ego was working on the game for Sony, making it a first-party exclusive for the platform. However, along the way they had to deal with "unstable finances of their investor," leading to a breach of contract with Sony. Sony considered the project done, but the team at Super-Ego wasn't ready to simply abandon their work.In the time since the game's cancellation, Super-Ego has supposedly been in talks with other third party publishers, willing to help provide the resources necessary to finish the game and get it on the PlayStation Network. Considering it's no longer a Sony first-party title, the team will no longer make the game exclusive to PS3. A PC version is supposedly planned, with an Xbox 360 version also being considered.[Thanks, sean]%Gallery-10118%
Rat Race is canceled
We teamed up with Joystiq's Chris Grant in a lengthy interview with Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida (full interview to come later in the week). One of the random details we stumbled upon was the fate of the long-forgotten PSN episodic title, Rat Race. He admitted earnestly: "So, yeah, we stopped it. We really liked the concept; it's like The Office TV series. It was kind of funny but we were not quite happy with how the game was turning out and there was some difficulty in development." Remember the first footage of the game? Well, it wasn't too inspiring. Honestly, this isn't one we're going to regret losing.
Don't laugh now, PSN's Rat Race exterminated
Following a discussion of Siren, we asked Sony Worldwide Studios pres Shuhei Yoshida about development of the not-quite-funny episodic comedy series Rat Race for the PSN. Yoshida laughed, telling Joystiq: "You have good memory. Yeah, maybe I talked about episodic games and that's my fault. So, yeah, we stopped it. We really liked the concept; it's like The Office TV series. It was kind of funny but we were not quite happy with how the game was turning out and there was some difficulty in development." So, for those of you cursed with a penchant for terrible comedy, you'll probably want to dull the pain with yet another episode of Two and a Half Men. The rest of you? Keep an eye out for the remainder of our interview with Yoshida.
Interview with Rat Race creators
If you saw the first few clips for Rat Race, the episodic adventure/comedy game coming to the PlayStation Network this winter, then you already know that it's about as funny as a train wreck. Into an orphanage. Made of puppies. Imagine a Dilbert comic strip written by the guys who did Date Movie, and you're about at the level of comedy we're talking about. However, those sweethearts at PS3 Fanboy gave the game's creators a chance to defend their game (or at least apologize).Some highlights from the interview: When asked about gameplay, the creators replied that the game will not only feature puzzles and conversation games, but "crowd-pleasing mechanics such as stealth, racing (on foot) and even shooting." Yes, nothing pleases a crowd quite like a forced stealth section in a video game - and nothing says 'lighthearted romp' quite like an office shooting. Also, a few of the game's writers have worked on Conan O' Brien, SNL, My Name is Earl and Flight of the Conchords. Based on the clips we've seen so far, we're guessing those writers are on strike.
PS3 Fanboy interview: Rat Race
The upcoming Rat Race surprised everyone when it was announced a few weeks ago. Now, Greg Easley and the rest of the Rat Race team must figure out the finer points of comedy, as they venture into new, unknown territory. See our exclusive interview below.The game is currently announced for PS3. Do you intend on keeping it a PS3 exclusive, or will it appear on XBLA as well?Rat Race is a first-party Sony title and will remain a PS3 exclusive.What was the inspiration for an episodic comedy game?Back when we were a tiny startup, a friend of the company suggested we avoid traditional genres and set our sights on making a totally original game. Knowing what our engine could do, he suggested setting the game in an office and incorporating over-the-top comedy. It didn't take long to figure out nearly everyone on the planet has funny and outrageous office stories to tell. (Don't you? Admit it!) We realized that with material this rich we should just go for it.%Gallery-10118%
Rat Race trailer somehow reminds us of the Sims
Rat Race, the newly revealed episodic game exclusive for the PSN, certainly has some potential. The trailer above, however, doesn't exactly fill us with confidence. Whilst watching it we had vague flashbacks to The Sims 2. Despite that, we're excited about episodic gaming coming to the PSN. That's real episodic gaming, by the way. Not Valve-style episodic. As far as we know, no gameplay details for Rat Race have really been divulged. Until we learn more we're going to reserve judgment. How about you?
Rat Race brings episodic comedy to PSN
No, no, no. We're not talking about the god awful Jerry Zucker film, so stop thinking about Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Whoopi Goldberg right now. The Rat Race we're talking about involves Super-Ego Studios, PlayStation Network, and episodic content. Just announced over at the PlayStation.Blog by Greg Easley, co-founder of Super-Ego Studios, the game "is a PS3-exclusive comedy/adventure game ... that will be available as individual episodes on PSN beginning this winter."According to the post, the premise reads as if someone thought turning an amalgamation of The Office (British, American, French, or German – take your pick), Dilbert, Office Space, and [insert name of satirical parody of cubical chicanery here] would make for a knee slappin' gaming experience. Easley doesn't deny this, almost confirming its spoofing on the aforementioned works by stating the goal with Rat Race "is to give you the feeling of 'playing' inside an episode of your favorite TV show."While this definitely diversifies Sony's content, trying to launch comedic gaming via an episodic format in a country where Two and a Half Men is what passes for television's highest rated "comedy" seems rather ... misguided. However, the video on Super-Ego's main page clues us into what the appeal will be: LCD (lowest common denominator). Breast reduction! An extramarital affair with a co-worker's wife! Please, no more, our sides are done "banana'd split."%Gallery-8731%
Super-Ego Studios announces Rat Race, exclusive for PS3
Nope, this isn't the announcement of the long-awaited Seth Green movie tie-in. This Rat Race is a completely different monster, slated to hit the PSN exclusively at some point in the near future. The game is being hailed as a comedy/adventure title, pulling voice talent from places like South Park, Ugly Betty, Flight of the Conchords, and more. Basically, the voice talent alone will make this game worth a second look. But what's it play like?Behold: a dysfunctional office. This is your base of operations, so to speak. The office and happenings therein would "make the Enron guys look like Nobel Prize laureates" and that's always a good start. A list of colorful characters is described at the PlayStation Blog, but that's not what we're looking for right now. The goal of the game is to make you feel like you're "playing a role" in an episode of your favorite TV show. There's more than snappy dialogue and interactive text, though -- you'll sneak, solve puzzles, steal, fight lab monkeys and more. It seems like it'll be a giant parody game in a way, but all in an office with some of the most interesting voice talents around. More to come!
